Surrey Associates – Counsellors

In addition to ABLE, Piers Samson also works as a clinical counsellor at a school for students with Neurodiversity. For many years he has worked with students with neurological differences such as Autism, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and a variety of learning differences (such as Dyslexia, processing disorders, sensory disorders and others). In addition, he has counselled individuals with a variety of mental health disorders and trauma experiences. Besides one-to-one work, he has also run parent support groups, groups for learning differences, and trauma. He has conducted his counseling practice in a variety of settings, school, family treatment in the home, family support agencies and mental health clinics.

Piers has an undergraduate degree in Biopsychology and a master’s in counselling from UBC. His master’s thesis was on counselling those with learning differences. He is a Certified Canadian Clinical Counsellor. In addition, Piers has a variety of approaches to therapy, including Family Therapy, CBT, DBT, Motivational Interviewing,

Some of the issues he has focused with clients on working through are school refusal, bullying, trauma experiences, learning difference-related issues, life transitions, career, school success skills, life management, family issues, parenting, attachment disorders, behavioural challenges, mental health and many others.

His practice is characterized by a creative, strength-based approach that incorporates neuroscience, attachment and psychology to create a rich environment for self-exploration and growth. He enjoys working with children in Grade 7 or above, youth and families of all ethic and life backgrounds.

Piers’ personal life has greatly informed his skill development and motivations. He has two children by international adoption, has been married for almost 30 years and has lived in a variety of places in the world. He has significant Dyslexia himself. Consequently, what he has experienced personally he can use to support the neurodiverse community. Personal struggles with his own learning; including attending 9 schools, many psych-ed assessments, struggles in post-secondary and many self-advocacy adventures. He was on the board of directors of the Vancouver Learning Disabilities Association and has been working with those with learning differences in a variety of circumstances for more than 30 years.

He also has many connections in the community with other mental health professionals, other champions for those with learning differences and a huge variety of resources, from personal experience and study.

He endeavours to always empower, strengthen and encourage others in their adventures with their own learning differences and is passionate about supporting families to build strong thriving lives.

Dr. Jennifer Bach has a doctorate in psychology from the University of Johannesburg (South Africa) and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor. She specialises in counselling children, teens and young adults with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), PTSD, adjustment disorder, attention and behavioural challenges, difficulties with emotion regulation, and learning disabilities. Moreover, Dr. Bach has extensive experience conducting psychotherapy with children with ASD and also works with parents of children with ASD. She provides counselling using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Person-Centered Therapy, Play Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy. Dr. Bach as well provides assessment services for children and teens for ADHD, learning disorders, giftedness and beginning in October 2019 will conduct Autism assessments for toddlers, children and teens. Furthermore, she has an international research background having conducted research in Canada, South Africa, England and U.S.A. in areas of focus in Positive Psychology, contemplation and meditation on compassion aimed at increasing psychological well-being in adolescents, cross-cultural research on depression, PTSD, and exposure to violence among adolescents, and trauma activism and AIDS. Dr. Bach has three published research journal articles. Additionally, she provides mental health research support to community planning initiatives working closely with First Nations communities across Canada