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 collaborate creatively, integrating tools from evidence-based approaches to help you manage emotional pain, stress, or trauma; live a more authentic life; and develop and recover stability, security, 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, a Certified Advanced Neurofeedback Trainer working with the NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback system, and a trained Safe and Sound Protocol provider with Integrated Listening Systems. 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, where I offer clinical services, guidance and structure to those teams.

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, panic, grief, trauma, life transitions, addictions, and more. Many clients come to me feeling disconnected or burdened by challenging relationships, traumatic events, or unresolved childhood experiences, or feeling burnt out or overwhelmed. Physical symptoms of stress, such as sleep issues or digestive distress, are also common among those I help. I also frequently work with people who are diagnosed ADHD or suspect that they may be ADHD.

My approach is gentle yet direct. Working collaboratively with clients, we 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 foundation built on cultivating a sense of safety and finding meaning and purpose in life. 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 developed and supervised multiple clinical programs across Metro Vancouver.

I work with:

Anxiety and panic
Depression
Neurodivergence (ADHD and giftedness/twice-exeptional)
Health anxiety
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
Supervision
More!

About Neurofeedback

The term “Neurofeedback” refers to any technological intervention that offers feedback directly to the brain about its own function.

Much of our brain’s communication happens through tiny electrical signals. Our approach to Neurofeedback reads that electrical information and offers simple sound feedback to notify the brain about its own patterns and functions. Your brain is given information about what it is doing in real-time in a way that makes it easy to self-correct. We do not diagnose or push of any frequency patterns – your brain is invited to use the information to self-regulate and re-calibrate. It’s working with the whole brain, it’s highly personalized and does not compare your brain to a normative database, and it’s an unconscious process that requires little conscious effort. This makes the system very safe to use with people of all ages and concerns.

Neurofeedback sessions can be run as a standalone service, or incorporated into counselling sessions.

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?

Each brain is different and we don’t force any outcomes, so we can’t predict how or when your brain will use the information. Just like going to the gym, you may feel tired afterwards.

How many times will I need to train?

It’s different for each person and each situation. Some people train regularly as part of their self-care routine, others prefer to do a course of training sessions, take a break, and come back for ‘tune-up’ sessions as needed.

How often do I need to train?

Because our approach to Neurofeedback doesn’t push the brain, you can train as often as you wish and as often as you feel helps you.

Is there any reason I shouldn't come for Neurofeedback?

Neurofeedback bases feedback on your own dynamical brain readings rather than comparing your brain to a norm. Training will refer to your own brain’s activity based on whatever your starting point or concern. Training will not be pushing your brain towards any outcome – it informs your brain in a way that is easily accessed and integrated.

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:

New Interns coming in the fall of '25

I regularly supervise student therapists at East Vancouver Counselling, and will have 2 students beginning their work and clinical practice with me in September ’25.

In the meantime, I’m happy to recommend students hosted at East Vancouver Counselling for anyone seeking low cost, accessible services.