Richmond Associates – Counsellors

Lianne holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree and is Registered Clinical Counsellor. Being a Licensed Early Childhood Educator as well, Lianne has a wealth of experience in working with preschool-aged children, including children with autism and other neurodiversity, and their families. She has supported children and teens facing challenges related to anxiety, depression, anger-management, social skills, and other behavioral and emotional issues. She brings her knowledge and experience in helping young adults and adults with depression, anxiety/stress, relationship conflict, social skills or interpersonal challenges, and other life transitions and challenges. By using principles and techniques from research-based approaches including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis, and other client-centered techniques, Lianne ensures to deliver an empathic, genuine, and nonjudgmental environment. She is also receiving training in Synergetic Play Therapy® to support the younger population in a therapeutic setting. Lianne provides counselling in English or Tagalog and in-person or via telehealth.

Robyn holds a Master of Social Work Degree (MSW). She is a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in the Province of British Columbia and is also a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC). Robyn approaches her work from a trauma-informed, systems and intersectional lens, recognizing the intricacy and uniqueness of each of her client's lived experience.

Over the past 15 years, Robyn has worked in various capacities within the mental health field. She has supported children, youth, and adults across the lifespan, working through issues related to anxiety and depression, adoption transitions, adjustment to medical diagnoses, abuse and neglect, trauma, LGBTQ2S+ identity, grief and loss, separation and divorce, and complex familial relationships. More recently, Robyn has specialized in gender affirming and transgender care, supporting gender diverse children and youth, and their family members. In addition to her work as a therapist, Robyn works as a social worker at BC Children’s Hospital.

Robyn’s therapeutic approach is anti-oppressive, strengths-based, and client and family centered. She is flexible and integrative in that she incorporates various therapies to best serve her clients unique needs. She has been trained in Attachment Theory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy.

Paola (she, they) holds a Master's degree in Counselling Psychology, specializing in School and Youth counselling. Her expertise lies in supporting neurodivergent children and adults. Paola believes in creating a safe and supportive space for her clients to explore their emotions, needs, and values. She understands that building a trusting therapeutic relationship is crucial. By taking an empathic, honest, and non-judgemental stance, Paola strives to build a collaborative relationship where her clients can feel heard and understood. Paola is multilingual and can comfortably provide counselling support in English, Spanish, and German.

Clients can expect a strength-based approach to help understand and cope with the specific challenges they are facing. By leaning on what’s already working, the client can view situations realistically and look for opportunities that support and complement the individual. Her holistic approach views challenges from multiple perspectives, including the individual and environment, such as history, culture, and lifestyle. The goal is to be affirming to the client, which includes using sensory and other accommodations, while respecting that everyone has unique needs. Paola draws from various counselling approaches, including synergetic play therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT), narrative therapy, and mindfulness. This allows her to accommodate each client's unique needs and goals.

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.