Our offices are located in Bedford and Windsor.
Visit Online Booking (see below) and set up a free
15 Minute Meet and Greet to learn more about us and our services.
We provide an environment of care and acceptance for children
where transformation and healing can begin.
We support children struggling with:
Anxiety
Grief and Loss
Anger Issues
Trauma
Sexual Abuse
Coping with Parental Divorce/Separation
Autism
Aggression
ADHD
Immigration/Refugees
Visit Online Booking (see below) and set up a free
15 Minute Meet and Greet to learn more about us and our services.
We provide an environment of care and acceptance for children
where transformation and healing can begin.
We support children struggling with:
Anxiety
Grief and Loss
Anger Issues
Trauma
Sexual Abuse
Coping with Parental Divorce/Separation
Autism
Aggression
ADHD
Immigration/Refugees
What is Play Therapy?
Play is children's natural language.
Play Therapy is an approach to mental health counselling that uses play as the method of communication and relationship between the child and the therapist. Play Therapy is not the same as Play-Based Learning, which is an educational method used in schools. Play Therapy is different from the kind of play that children naturally engage in.
"Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including: children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, assimilate stressful experiences, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural disasters (Bratton, Ray, Rhine, & Jones, 2005; LeBlanc & Ritchie, 2001; Lin & Bratton, 2015; Ray, Armstrong, Balkin, & Jayne, 2015; Reddy, Files-Hall, & Schaefer, 2005)."
Play therapy helps children:
From APA Website: https://www.a4pt.org/page/PTMakesADifference/Play-Therapy-Makes-a-Difference.htm
Play Therapy is an approach to mental health counselling that uses play as the method of communication and relationship between the child and the therapist. Play Therapy is not the same as Play-Based Learning, which is an educational method used in schools. Play Therapy is different from the kind of play that children naturally engage in.
"Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including: children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, assimilate stressful experiences, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural disasters (Bratton, Ray, Rhine, & Jones, 2005; LeBlanc & Ritchie, 2001; Lin & Bratton, 2015; Ray, Armstrong, Balkin, & Jayne, 2015; Reddy, Files-Hall, & Schaefer, 2005)."
Play therapy helps children:
- Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
- Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
- Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
- Learn to experience and express emotion.
- Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
- Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
- Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.
From APA Website: https://www.a4pt.org/page/PTMakesADifference/Play-Therapy-Makes-a-Difference.htm
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Who We Are
My name is Cynthia Manley, and I am the owner of Shifting Tides Play Therapy. I am a Certified Play Therapist and a Certified Play Therapist Supervisor with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy. I am a Certified Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association and a Registered Counselling Therapist with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. Before I became a therapist, I was a Special Education teacher for 20 years.
My work and that of my associates is regulated by the Canadian Counselling and Psychological Association's Code of Ethics. Click here to learn more: https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/2020-code-of-ethics/ I love working with children and their caregivers, and I believe strongly that each child has their own unique story. Children are brilliant at finding their own path to healing when they have an environment that includes warmth, acceptance, and safety. To meet the individual needs of each child, I integrate different approaches to counselling into the playroom. I have foundational training in Theraplay and EMDR. I completed the EMDR Child Specialist Training through the Agate Institute. I am certified in Autplay. I worked as a Special Education teacher for 20 years in the US states of California and Oregon and in British Columbia. I have a Special Education Specialist Credential and a Crosscultural Language and Academic Development Certificate from the state of California. I also hold a teaching license in Nova Scotia. I believe that caregivers are crucial in helping me create the right conditions for children's healing. Caregivers are full of wisdom and expertise when it comes to their children, and I work with them to create a treatment plan that meets the needs of everyone in the life of a child. I am a parent of a son who is 23 years old and two step children who are 19 and 22 years old. I love to travel and I love to explore places here in the HRM. I enjoy travel, cooking and yoga. I acknowledge that my office is located in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People. This territory is covered by the "Treaties of Peace and Friendship" which Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people first signed with the British Crown in 1725. “We are like islands in the sea; separate on the surface but connected on the deep.” -William James |
With over 20 years of experience, I am dedicated to supporting children and adolescents as they navigate life's challenges. My background spans various roles in education, including as a school teacher, EAL teacher, Resource teacher, and Learning Centre teacher across Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia. I am currently training in Play Therapy through the Maritime Play Therapy Centre. This program is approved by the Canadian Association for Play Therapy. Through these diverse experiences, I have come to understand the vital role mental health plays in the development and well-being of young individuals.
Specializing in counselling therapy, I hold an MEd in Supporting Learners with Diverse Needs and Exceptionalities, as well as an MEd in Counselling from Acadia University and currently serve as a School Counselor. Central to my therapeutic approach is the recognition of parents and guardians as integral partners in a child's healing journey. Collaborating closely with families, I strive to support children in reaching their treatment goals and fostering positive outcomes. My methodology emphasizes play-based strategies, recognizing play as the natural language of children. By engaging in play, I create a safe and supportive environment where children can express their thoughts and feelings freely. Additionally, I tailor my therapeutic techniques to meet the unique needs and personalities of each individual client, ensuring a personalized and effective approach to counselling. |
I am a Registered Counselling Therapist Candidate with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists. I am in my third year of Play Therapy Training in a recognized program of the Canadian Association for Play Therapy, a national certification. I am a member of Canadian
Counselling and Psychological Association. I have been in the helping profession for over forty years. I began my career as a Registered Nurse working with a variety of age groups and in a variety of settings including hospital, public health, home care and long-term care for children. I became a teacher working in the North for 10 years teaching upper elementary before returning to school to complete my Med in Counselling at Acadia University currently working as a school counsellor. I practice from a trauma informed, client centered approach and have specialty training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Theraplay-Sunshine Circles, Mindfulness and ASSIST. I have a passion for health, wellness and education. My methodology utilizes play-based strategies, recognizing that play as the natural language of children. I foster a strength-based approach and strive to create an environment that fosters a safe and supportive environment. I believe in providing tailoring therapeutic approaches to meet the individual and unique needs of each client. I recognize the vital role parents and guardians play in a child healing journey. I work collaboratively with families. I hold a Master of Education in Counselling degree from Acadia University, as well as a Master in Education with a focus in Mental Health from St Francis Xavier University and a Bachelor of Education and Science in Nursing from the University of Victoria. I have two young adult children, I was a single parent for many years. I understand the financial and emotional struggles that can be a part of parenting. I have made fitness a part of my daily practice including activities such as running, swimming, cycling, yoga and walking. I believe it is important to practice self-care. |
Services
We are registered providers with Blue Cross.
We are approved providers for the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services.
I am an approved provider for NIHB and IFHP
We are approved providers for the Nova Scotia Department of Community Services.
I am an approved provider for NIHB and IFHP
Intake (In-person or virtual)
Ages 3-99
90 Minutes
$240.00
Fees are on a sliding scale.
90 Minutes
$240.00
Fees are on a sliding scale.
Caregiver Consultation (In-person or virtual)
Ages 3-99
50 Minutes
$160
Fees are on a sliding scale.
50 Minutes
$160
Fees are on a sliding scale.
Counselling Therapy
Play Therapy
(In-person or virtual)
Ages 3-99
50 minutes
$160
Fees are on a sliding scale.
50 minutes
$160
Fees are on a sliding scale.
Clinical Supervision for Therapists (In-person or virtual)
Cynthia Manley, MA, CCC, RCT, CPT-S
Approved Supervisor with NSCCT
Approved Supervisor with CAPT
$160
Contact UsWe look forward to hearing from you.
Our offices are located at 1600 Bedford Highway Suite 416 Bedford, Nova Scotia AND 69 Cedar Street Windsor, Nova Scotia Cynthia Manley, MA, RCT, CCC,CPT-S Practice Owner (902) 759-5761 [email protected] See our booking options below: You can download the Jane mobile app for online booking. The Jane app for client is available on Apple and Android. With one login, you can manage all of your appointments across any clinic using Jane. Download on the App Store: (https://apps.apple.com/app/id1590241313) Or get it on Google Play: (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.jane.mobile&pli=1) |
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