Cynthia Riley (she/her)

Discipline Play Therapist, Counselling Therapist

Credentials

• Certified Play Therapist (CPT)

• Certified Play Therapist Supervisor (CPTS)

• Certified Synergetic Play Therapist

• Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)

• Registered Counselling Therapist (RCT)

• Special Education Specialist Credential

• Cross-cultural Language and Academic Development Certificate (California)

• Nova Scotia Teaching Licence

Regulatory College / Licence

• Registered Counselling Therapist — Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists

• Canadian Certified Counsellor — Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

Professional Memberships

• Canadian Association for Play Therapy

• Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association

• Synergetic Play Therapy Institute

  
  

Areas of Focus

• Child-centred play therapy

• Trauma-informed counselling

• Attachment-based therapy

• Parent-child relationship support

• Emotional regulation development

• Family counselling

• Neurodiversity-affirming therapy

• Trauma processing in children

• EMDR-informed therapy

• Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)

• Integrative Attachment Family Therapy

• Theraplay-informed intervention

• Child behavioural and emotional support

• Parent coaching and caregiver support

• Child mental health and emotional development

Populations Served

• Children

• Adolescents

• Parents and caregivers

• Families navigating trauma, attachment, behavioural, or emotional challenges

• Neurodivergent children and families

LanguagesEnglish

Bio

Cynthia RIley has dedicated her career to supporting children and families through compassionate, relationship-based therapeutic care. She values getting to know each family’s unique story and works collaboratively with caregivers to create the conditions children need for healing, connection, and emotional safety.

Cynthia is a Certified Play Therapist and Certified Play Therapist Supervisor through the Canadian Association for Play Therapy. She is also a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist through the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute, a Canadian Certified Counsellor, and a Registered Counselling Therapist regulated through the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists.

Before becoming a therapist, Cynthia worked for 20 years as a Special Education teacher, supporting children in educational systems across California, Oregon, and British Columbia. She also holds a Special Education Specialist Credential, a Cross-cultural Language and Academic Development Certificate from the State of California, and a teaching licence in Nova Scotia.

To support the individual needs of each child, Cynthia integrates multiple counselling and relational therapy approaches into her work. Her advanced training includes Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (Level 1), Integrative Attachment Family Therapy (Levels 1 and 2), Theraplay, EMDR foundational training, EMDR Child Specialist training through the Agate Institute, and certification in AutPlay Therapy.

Her work is deeply informed by attachment science, trauma-informed practice, emotional regulation development, parent-child relationships, and helping children process difficult experiences in ways that are developmentally safe and supportive.

As both a clinician and a parent, Cynthia understands the complexity of family life and values helping caregivers feel supported throughout the therapeutic process. She is the parent of a 24-year-old son and, outside of work, enjoys travelling, exploring new places around the Halifax Regional Municipality, and practicing yoga.

Her work and the work of her associates are guided by the ethical standards established by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association Code of Ethics.

Cynthia is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.