Ladona Pinder
MA RSW RCC BCRPT ccc
Registered Social Worker, Clinical Counsellor & Play Therapist
➤ View my Psychology Today profile
EDUCATION
- Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University
- Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care, VIU
- Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, VIU
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
- Play Therapy Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute
- Prepare/Enrich Couples Counsellor
- CoParent Coach Training, New Ways for Families
- Gottman Emotional Coaching- The Heart of Parenting
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Training
- Structured Analysis Family Evaluation Supervisor and Home Study Training Consortium for Children
- Cognitive Behavioural Interpersonal Skills, Indigenous Approach
- Parent Adoption Support Training
- Neuroscience and Satir in the Sand Training, Playful Dyads
- Internal Family Systems Training
- The Flash Technique, Trauma Institute and Child Trauma Institute
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Trained
- Gottman Method, Level 2 Training for Couples Therapy
MEET LADONA
Ladona is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), a Registered Social Worker with the BCCSW and ACSW, and a Registered Play Therapist with the BCRPT. She brings over 18 years of experience supporting children, youth, adults, couples, and families with a wide range of emotional, relational, and developmental concerns.
Ladona specializes in play therapy, child and family counselling, parenting support, and couples counselling. As a Registered Play Therapist, she uses play-based therapy and sand tray therapy to help children express emotions, process experiences, and build coping skills in developmentally appropriate ways. She is trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches, including family systems therapy, attachment-based counselling, solution-focused therapy, narrative therapy, person-centred therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness Self-Compassion, co-parent coaching, PREPARE/ENRICH couples counselling and Gottman Method -level 2 training.
Ladona offers a safe, non-judgmental, and supportive environment where counselling is guided by client-identified goals. She brings a calm, compassionate presence to her work and is deeply committed to helping clients feel heard, understood, and supported.
Her practice is grounded in family systems, attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and culturally responsive approaches. Ladona has extensive experience supporting families navigating divorce and separation, blended and adoptive family dynamics, parenting challenges, and complex relational stressors. She supports clients in developing awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and physical experiences with compassion, while taking meaningful steps toward positive change.
Ladona began her social work career in 2006 on Vancouver Island, supporting families impacted by trauma, domestic violence, addictions, and family breakdown. In 2022, she joined Allius Counselling and Family Mediation Services in Nanaimo, and in 2024 relocated to Edmonton, where she continues to support Allius clients through virtual counselling.
Ladona supports concerns including relationship and marriage difficulties, parenting challenges, anxiety, depression, panic, emotional dysregulation, grief and loss, trauma, life transitions, work-related stress, and behavioural difficulties. Her extensive experience across multiple mental health settings allows her to tailor counselling using a wide range of effective tools.
Outside of her professional work, Ladona enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, who continue to inspire the work she does with individuals and families.
**Ladona is currently accepting new clients for online counselling sessions ONLY**
Fees: $160 - $250 per session