Interview with Board Member Cynthia Zitny
An interview with board member Cynthia Zitny. She has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Clinical Social Work from Wayne State University. Cynthia has licenses in both Clinical Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy and has owned her own private practice outpatient mental health clinic in Sterling Heights for 17 years.
Tell us a little about yourself both professionally and spiritually.
I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and my parents moved to Sterling Heights when I was four; I have two younger sisters. We were raised Southern Baptist and my grandparents had a huge impact on my religious as well as spiritual development. They were very devout Christians and loved Jesus with their whole hearts. I remember knowing Jesus in a very special way at about the age of four or five. Perhaps because of my physical disabilities which began at age 2, I always felt very close to God and only He was the one who could give me strength to get through each and every day. When I was 26 I moved to Warren, Michigan, for a few years and then in 1999 married my husband Dennis, and we moved back to Sterling Heights where we live now. I came into the Catholic Church in 1992 after having been involved in a prayer group for many years where a dear group of ladies prayed for me that I would someday find fulfillment in the Catholic Church, and they also said that I would love the Blessed Mother as much as they did. They were right! Professionally, I obtained both my Bachelors and Masters in Social Work from Wayne State University. I am licensed to practice in Michigan in both Clinical Social Work and Marriage and Family Therapy. I have owned my own outpatient mental health clinic for 17 years. This clinic is located in Sterling Heights. I work with children, teens, adults and seniors with a variety of presenting issues. My primary focus is marriage counseling, individuals who have been traumatized from abuse, and those who have sexual addictions. Although we do have other therapists in the practice, most of my caseload is patients seeking a Christian and or Catholic therapist.
Why did you accept a position on the board of Directors for Chesterton Academy of Detroit?
I accepted the position as a board member of Chesterton Academy of Detroit for many reasons. For the purposes of this interview I will name only a few. When I was younger I thought that I wanted to be a teacher and soon I felt led to choose counseling as a profession. Much of what I do in my counseling sessions is education-based treatment and helping individuals, couples and families to learn skills in order to change and maintain this change in their lives for a healthier life. Not just in my youth but in college and through the patients that I have worked with throughout all these years, it has become very clear to me the education our children receive is paramount to their spiritual development. I have worked over the years with many families who have homeschooled their children, and with this comes a variety of stressors and roadblocks. When I heard of this opportunity with the board of Chesterton, I became very excited as this could become an option for those families and others after them! It also helped that I had a fondness for G. K. Chesterton and his teachings and messages since I was young!
What strengths do you think you bring to the board?
I have been very blessed by God to be a highly responsible, hardworking and organized individual. The love of the Trinity and Blessed Mother have enhanced my life in positive ways that I cannot describe. I am a faithful Catholic and my prayer life is very strong. One of my most favorite spiritual enjoyments besides prayer is adoration. Though I appreciate my upbringing as a Southern Baptist and of the wealth of Scriptural knowledge that I have, I feel very blessed to have discovered the Catholic faith and the fulfillment of the Christian life through this religion. As a professional licensed therapist—specializing in families—it is my hope and prayer that this knowledge, experience and relationship with Christ will be used for God's will.
You don't have children of your own. What is it about Chesterton Academy that gives you the motivation to be involved in founding this school?
Even though God has not blessed us with children, my husband and I both understand the gravity and the importance of families having an opportunity for Catholic classical education in the Metro Detroit area. My husband is a cradle Catholic and was educated through Divine Child in Dearborn. We feel privileged for me to have this opportunity to be part of the founding of this school.
Tell us what people are saying to you about Chesterton Academy? Has there been much interest from people?
Thus far, and I believe because we are still in our beginning stages, the response from many families is that they are very pleased to have this as an option for educating their children. This option seems to be what most of them have been looking for and have not found! This is especially true for high school-aged children.