More About Cindy Gaffney

My approach to therapy tends to allow you, as the person that I work with, to take control of your own session and explore to determine what issues you might be struggling with and how these issues might be impacting your life.  I have a lot of success by asking effective questions which helps you, my client, to truly consider what is important to you.  We also explore together what might be the best options for you to begin to try to practice with the intention of improving your daily life.

Historically, I have had a great deal of success using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques and I consider one of my specialties to be working with Grief and Loss.  I am currently working to complete my Certification in The Grief Recovery Method; once finished, I will be able to consider myself a Grief Recovery Method Specialist.  I came to the decision to complete this training once I realized that Grief and Loss was one of the most common issues which occur in therapy.  I really like the The Grief Recovery Method definition of Grief: “Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behaviour.”; and by this definition, Grief and Loss occur fairly regularly.  

Another one of my favorite techniques I have learned during my time at Insight has been using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).  I like it because it works quickly, efficiently and thoroughly.  I also enjoy it because, as far as I’m concerned, you can see it working.

I also have had training as a Dramatherapist.  In the future I hope to develop some group therapy experiences where we could use Dramatherapy to help you, the participant, to deal with any difficulties that you are struggling with in your life.  Using Drama as a medium, we can explore different topics and issues, sometimes from a safe distance.

Thank you for your interest in Insight Psychological and thank you for spending the time to learn more about me.  Just let me know how I can help you.   

A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS

What is your favourite quote?

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain!”

What quick advice do you have for people who are really struggling?

Try to connect with your friends because often when people are struggling, they can isolate themselves from others.  Also, just getting out and exercising can do wonders for a person’s mood. 

Qualifications

Masters of Arts in Creative Arts therapies: Dramatherapy

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Bachelor of Education (BEd)

Affiliations

College of Alberta Psychologists

Psychologists Association of Alberta

Languages

• English

My areas of focus:

Anxiety & Depression

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Depression
• Phobias
• Self-Esteem Issues

Couples

• Marriage and Relationship Concerns

Grief & Loss Care

• Grief and Loss
• Life Transitions and Adjustment Issues
• Losing Someone to Suicide
• Loss of a Loved One

Other Areas

• Anger Management
• Stress Management

Thrive (Child & Youth)

• Family Issues

Trauma Care

• Motor Vehicle Accident Trauma

I have experience in:

• Arts Performance
• Changes in Health
• Child & Youth Anxiety
• Child & Youth Depression
• Child & Youth Stress and Trauma
• Children & Youth 10 to 12 Years
• Children 6 to 9 Years
• Children's Mental Health
• Couples Counselling
• Divorce or Separation
• Emotional Abuse
• Emotional Regulation
• Empty Nest Syndrome
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Graduation
• Histrionic Personality Disorder
• Insomnia
• Issues Related to Bullying
• LGBTQ2S+ Issues
• Loss of Employment
• Loss of a Child
• Panic Disorder
• Parenting Coordination
• Physical Abuse
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Premarital Counselling
• Retirement
• Self-Harming
• Seniors and the Elderly Issues
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Suicidal Thoughts
• Teen's Mental Health
• Weight Management
• Workplace Stress
• Workplace Trauma
• Youth 13 to 15 Years
• Youth 16 to 17 Years

My treatment approaches:

• Art Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
• Exposure Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Grief Work
• Person Centered Therapy
• Play Therapy
• Solution Focused Therapy
• Virtual Reality Assisted Therapy

Assessment services:

• Anxiety Assessment
• Behavioural Assessment
• Career/Occupational Assessments
• Depression Assessment
• Gottman Relationship Checkup
• Intellectually Advanced Assessment
• Mental Health Assessments
• Personality & Behaviour Assessments
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder/Trauma Assessment
• Psychoeducational Assessment
• SAFE Assessment