About Allius Services

About Allius Services

Allius Services was incorporated in 2020, but Lurline Raposo, the founder and Clinical Director, has been in private practice since 2011, first in Calgary, AB, now here in Nanaimo, bc.

Our clinic name, “Allius,” comes from combining ALL, I, and US - reflecting our commitment to fostering connections. For the Allius team, it is all about people connecting with themselves in order to connect better with others. This is what we aim to support in our work with people, both young and old.

Our team would like to acknowledge that our clinic is located on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish People -- the Stz'uminus, Snuneymuxw, and Snaw-naw-as Nations. We recognize the importance of the lands we each call home. We do this to reaffirm our commitment and responsibility in improving relationships between nations and to improving our own understanding of local Indigenous peoples and their cultures.

Our Team

Lurline Raposo

MA RCC-ACS, RPT, BCRPT-S

Clinical Director/ Registered Clinical Counsellor & Play Therapy Supervisor

lurline@allius.ca

Lurline is an experienced professional with over 20 years of dedicated work in the field of children, youth, and family support. Her primary focus is assisting parents in effectively caring for their children. She holds several important credentials, including being a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Play Therapist, Supervisor for Play Therapy, and an Accredited Clinical Supervisor with BCACC.


Ladona Pinder

MA RSW RCC

Counselling Associate/ Registered Social Worker & Clinical Counsellor

ladona@allius.ca

Ladona brings over 20 years of experience in working with children, youth, and families. Her expertise lies in providing support for attachment, behavioral difficulties, developmental differences, parent coaching, and resolving family conflicts. She has received formal training in various therapeutic approaches such as Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Neuroscience Satir in the Sandtray, and Prepare Enrich couple and family interventions.


Nicole Puckering

BA MA RCC

Counselling Associate/ Registered Clinical Counsellor

nicole@allius.ca

Allius Services is privileged to have Nicole as a Counselling Associate and a member of the Ahousaht First Nations. With an MA in Counselling Psychology and a BA in Child & Youth Care, specializing in Child Protection, Nicole brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role. For the past decade, she has dedicated herself to working with children, youth, and families who face trauma, conflict, and complex family situations. Her passion lies in supporting kids, families, and parents through their challenges. Nicole is also open to assisting individuals dealing with mood disorders, life transitions, and other family difficulties.


Michelle Mills

BA MA (Pending)

Counselling Associate/ BCACC (student member)

michelle@allius.ca

Michelle holds a degree in Child and Youth Care and possesses 8 years of valuable experience working with children, youth, and adults. For the past four years, she has dedicated her efforts to a school environment, providing support to children and families with diverse and complex needs. Michelle possesses a deep understanding of both child development and attachment in parenting. She prioritizes a trauma-informed approach, emphasizing empathy and care to foster a robust therapeutic relationship with her clients. Through her work experience, Michelle has recognized the significance of respecting each individual’s unique life journey and delivering non-judgmental, compassionate care that facilitates healing.


Chaowen Yuan

BA, MS.Ed

Counselling Associate

chaowen@allius.ca

Chaowen has been working with children, youth, and families for the past 10 years. She obtained her MS.Ed in Developmental Psychology and has worked as a youth counsellor and mental health educator for schools and non-profits where she supported kids and youth with complex needs, helping them to navigate through their challenges and build resilience.

One of Chaowen's areas of expertise lies in assisting youth and families with career development and major choices. By helping young individuals recognize their potential and facilitating constructive conversations within families, she has empowered numerous individuals to make informed decisions about their future.

Chaowen is keen on continuing to support families and individuals to achieve their goals in therapy with her move to BC. She creates a compassionate space where clients can freely express themselves, fostering a sense of trust and safety. Through her therapeutic work, she aims to empower her clients to overcome obstacles and lead fulfilling lives. Chaowen is in the process of registering as a Registered Clinical Counsellor upon meeting all her BCACC requirements.

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Liz Baerg

BHS, MA (In Progress)

Counselling Student Intern

liz@allius.ca

Liz holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and has over 20 years of experience working with families, teens, and new parents. Most recently, Liz has been working in employment services, assisting individuals with barriers to find employment. Liz has completed her graduate study coursework at City University and will be applying this knowledge to her work at Allius Services.


Our Mission

To foster improved intra-personal and interpersonal connections that bring greater harmony to the individuals, families, organizations, and communities we serve.

Our Vision

Healing through better connections both inside and out.

Curiosity

We prioritize our professional learning while continuously striving to improve our practices and models to offer greater benefits to the clients we serve.

Play

We believe “playfulness” is a cornerstone of healing and wellness. As such, clients of all ages are encouraged to incorporate humor, expressive arts, sand

Balance

We know that sustained emotional availability can only be achieved through balance and self compassion. Clinicians and coaches must feel supported in

Diversity

We appreciate the uniqueness of each person and family with whom we work while thoughtfully considering the influence culture, identity, history, and socio-political systems have on us.

Meaningful Connection

The healing power of relationships is a foundational principle, and we seek to cultivate true connections with clients, each other, and our community.

Authenticity

We are humans first and counsellors second. As humans who face suffering throughout our lives, as clinicians, we can guide with this shared vulnerability.

Allius Services serves clients across Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Chemainus, Port Alberni, and the surrounding areas.

Allius Services gratefully operates on the traditional lands of the Snaw-naw-as, Snuneymuxw, and Stz’uminus Nations. Our team acknowledges the necessity for reconciliation and redress for all First Nations People.