Cynthia Farnsworth
MA, RCC-ACS, GRAD DIP (Art Therapy)
Supporting Your Journey Towards Healing, Resilience, and Growth
Heal. Grow. Thrive.
I offer trauma-informed counselling, art therapy, and neurofeedback to help you navigate life's challenges and embrace meaningful change.
Nice to meet you
In our work together, we will creatively integrate ideas from a variety of evidence-based approaches to collaboratively help you to manage emotional pain, stress or trauma, to live a more authentic life, and to develop and recover stability and joy.
My work is trauma-informed, attachment-based, and rooted in a biopsychosocial and neuropsychological framework. I have specialized training in a number of areas, and rely heavily on Polyvagal theory by Dr. Stephen Porges.
In addition to being a Registered Clinical Counsellor, I am also a professional Art Therapist, an Certified Advanced Neurofeedback Trainer working with the NeurOptimal(R) Neurofeedback system, and I have am a trained Safe and Sound Protocol provider. The ‘About’ section of this site offers more details about my background, skills and approach. I am also the Founder and Director of both East Vancouver Counselling and Blooming Brains Supportive Technologies.
My offices are centrally located at East Vancouver Counselling in the heart of East Vancouver.
I work with individual youth and adults.
Hi, I'm Cynthia!
With over 30 years of experience in therapeutic settings, I specialize in supporting individuals navigating overwhelm, stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, life transitions, and more. Many clients come to me feeling disconnected or burdened by challenging relationships, traumatic events, or unresolved childhood experiences. Physical symptoms of stress, such as sleep issues or digestive distress, are also common among those I help.
My approach is gentle yet direct, working collaboratively with clients to explore patterns, build emotional resilience, and develop practical skills for managing thoughts, emotions, and relationships. I also provide support to family members of those with mental health concerns and promote sustainability for caregivers and professionals in high-stress environments.
My practice is informed by diverse therapeutic frameworks, with a focus on cultivating a sense of safety. I draw on Polyvagal theory, Psychodynamic work, CBT, EMDR, Brainspotting, Attachment theory, Narrative Therapy, and Art Therapy, integrating these methods to create lasting, meaningful change.
As the Founder and Director of East Vancouver Counselling (est. 2016) and Blooming Brains Neurofeedback (est. 2017), I offer a range of counselling and non-verbal therapies that optimize the nervous system, promote well-being, and support peak performance.
I hold a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology (Yorkville University) and a Graduate Diploma in Art Therapy (Vancouver Art Therapy Institute). I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC-ACS Provisional #13767), a Professional Art Therapist (BCATA), and a Certified Advanced NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback Trainer. My additional certifications include Addictions Counselling (Justice Institute) and Association Management (Canadian Society of Association Executives). I have also trained extensively in neuroplasticity, trauma, self-regulation, and relationships.
Beyond clinical work, I present workshops on Art Therapy, Anxiety, Counsellor Sustainability, and Neurofeedback, and I have supervised multiple clinical programs across Metro Vancouver.
People see me to work on:
- Anxiety and panic
- Depression
- Caregiver concerns
- Codependence
- Workplace sustainability
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Processing traumatic events
- Grief
- Addictions
- Families of people with addictions or mental health concerns
- Relationship and divorce
- Concussion and TBI
- “Brain Fog”
- Sleep issues
- ADD and ADHD
- Supervision
- More!
About Neurofeedback
The term “Neurofeedback” refers to any approach that offers feedback directly to the brain about it’s own function. Brain activity happens through electrical currents. The hertz frequencies and the intensity of the signal can be associated with different states of mind.
With simple sound feedback, your brain is given information about what it is doing in real-time. Our systems offer information to your brain about the way it is performing, and your brain then determines what to do with that information. We do not diagnose or push of any frequency patterns – your brain is invited to use the information to self-regulate and re-calibrate. This makes the system very safe to use with people of all ages and concerns.
While you sit back and relax, listening to music or watching a show, the program simply reads and analyzes the electrical signals from your brain. You will sometimes hear a tiny – often imperceptible – sound interruption (sounds like a ‘click’ or a small amount of static). Your brain learns to recognize the relationship between the sound interruptions and what it was doing at the time of the interruption, and then determines what to do with that information. It’s a bit like looking in a mirror to check and adjust your posture. Over time and with repetition, the brain learns to optimize it’s performance.
Does it hurt?
No! Our approach to Neurofeedback is completely non-invasive. We use just a bit of paste to hold the 5 sensors in place in strategic positions on your ears and scalp. The sensors just read the electrical signals of your brain actitivity and communicate them to the computer.
Will I notice a difference right away?
How many times will I need to train?
How often do I need to train?
Is there any reason I shouldn't come for Neurofeedback?
Is there any reason I SHOULD come for Neurofeedback?
Our systems have been reviewed by Health Canada and the FDA. Health Canada has designated them to be a “Consumer Product”, which means that it is safe enough for public use.
Common reasons for training have included:
- stress management and resilience
- attention, focus and behaviour problems in school
- mood management
- improvements in athletic performance
- improvements to executive functioning, memory and decision making
- professional improvement
- recovery from chemotherapy and anaesthetic ‘fog’
- concussion
- sleep quality
- addictions
- cognitive decline and aging
- anxiety
- depression
- childhood trauma and ptsd
- sensory improvements for artists, musicians and other creative professionals
- reaction time and precision performance for professionals such as pilots, surgeons, and others who rely on speed and accuracy
Research and Information about Neurofeedback:
- A survey of recent research on Neurofeedback
- Video: Self-regulation and Children in an Elementary School Setting (Elinor Bazar)
- Performance Improvement: Surgeons
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Performance Improvement: Athletes (Video)
- Post Cancer Cognitive Impairment (Aka “Chemo Brain”)
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Alzheimers: Report on Ongoing Research
- Insomnia
- Traumatic Brain Injury – Case Study (Video)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD
- Substance Misuse / Abuse
Intern Counsellors currently under my Supervision
Francesca Di Libero (she/her) is currently completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology and has a Bachelor of Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
Francesca has experience working with children, youth and adults in various settings, including mentorship programs, crisis line support and employment counselling.
Francesca is passionate about helping people to navigate challenges with anxiety, depression, identity, self-esteem, and life transitions. She will provide a safe, open and non-judgmental space to support your healing and personal growth.
In her practice, Francesca brings forward her warm, client-centred approach, and focuses on meeting people where they are with unconditional positive regard. She works with her clients to open up new perspectives and tap into inner strengths, drawing on narrative, solution-focused, and cognitive behavioural therapies.
Francesca works with clients 9yo and up, and offers in-person and online sessions, with availability on Sundays, as well as weekdays and evenings.
Francesca offers low-cost counselling with some further sliding scale options.
Let's Chat
Cynthia Farnsworth, MA, RCC-ACS, GradDip(Art Therapy)
Address
- 202-1651 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5N 3Y3
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