Our Mission.
To foster improved intra-personal and interpersonal connections that bring greater harmony to the individuals, families, organizations and communities we serve.
Our Team.
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Clinical Director/ Registered Clinical Counsellor & Play Therapy Supervisor
Lurline has been working with children, youth and families for over 20 years. She is committed to helping parents to better support their children. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Registered Play Therapist, a Supervisor for Play Therapy and an Accredited Clinical Supervisor with BCACC.
Lurline has spent many years working with complex families in BC and previously in Alberta. She a BC Hear the Child Roster Member, she has completed her training in Family Mediation and she is a Family Court Assessor. Lurline has specialized training in family mediation, parenting coordination, needs of the child reporting and parental capacity assessment.
Lurline offers clinical supervision in many areas of practice. She draws from a variety of counselling models -- attachment-based and neuroscience, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, family systems, and more.
Allius Services is fortunate enough to have Nicole as a Counselling Associate who is also a member of the Ahousaht First Nations. She has her MA in Counselling Psychology and her BA in Child & Youth Care, specializing in Child Protection. For the past 10 years, Nicole has been working with children, youth and families facing trauma, conflict and complex family situations. She is passionate about working with kids, families and parents . Nicole is open to working with individuals experiencing mood disorders, life transitions and other family difficulties.
Nicole has training and experience in working therapeutically with CBT, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment , trauma-informed practice and child & youth development. She has advanced training in ACT to support counselling with preteens and teens.
Nicole is a registered Clinical Counsellor of BCACC. Her eventual goal is to offer culturally-informed counselling experiences to Indigenous people living in the Nanaimo area.
Ladona has been working with children, youth and families for more than 20 years. She is well-experienced to support attachment, behavioural difficulties, developmental differences parent coaching and resolving family conflicts. She is formally trained in Acceptance & Commitment therapy (ACT), Trauma-focused CBT, Neuroscience Satir in the Sandtray & Prepare Enrich couple and family interventions.
Ladona works with a family systems, attachment, trauma and culturally sensitive lens. She considers the uniqueness of each person and family that she encounters. Her personal and previous work history helps to inform and support her counselling work with families and kids, whether they are divorced, blended or adoptive.
Ladona is offering play-based therapy for children as young as five under the supervision of her registered play therapy supervisor to eventually register as a play therapist. She offers a welcoming and caring environment for all the children and adults she supports.
Ladona Pinder MA RSW RCC
Counselling Associate/ Registered Social Worker & Clinical Counsellor
Michelle has a degree in Child and Youth Care and has 8 years experience working with children, youth and adults. The last four years, she has been working in a school setting, where she supported children and families with varying complex needs. Michelle understands both child development and attachment in parenting. She is committed to a trauma -informed approach, prioritizing empathy and caring to build a strong therapeutic relationship with her clients. Her work experience has reinforced the importance of honouring each individual's unique life journey and offering non-judgmental, compassionate care that best supports healing.
Michelle has experience with CBT and is currently adding Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Mindful Self-Compassion to her therapeutic toolkit.
Michelle is a student member of BCACC and plans to register as an RCC upon meeting all her requirements.
Our Values.
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.
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 each of us.
MEANINGFUL CONNECTION
The healing power of relationship 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.
CURIOSITY
We prioritize our professional learning while continuously striving to improve our practices and models to offer greater benefit 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 humour, expressive arts, sand tray, sport, music, dance or other creative hobbies and pursuits into their therapeutic process.
BALANCE
We know that sustained emotional availability can only be achieved through balance and self-compassion. Clinicians and coaches must feel supported in prioritizing self-care to be effective and inspired in their work long term.