About Allius Counselling and Family Mediation Services
Allius Counselling and Family Mediation 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 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, an Accredited Clinical Supervisor with BCACC and a Parenting Coordinator.
Throughout her career, Lurline has worked extensively with complex families both in British Columbia and Alberta Her expertise is recognized as she is a BC Hear the Child Roster Member and a Roster Member for BC Parenting Coordinators. She has completed her Family Mediation training and she serves as a Family Court Assessor. Lurline's specialized training encompasses various areas, such as family mediation, parenting coordination, needs of the child reporting, and parental capacity assessment.
Ladona Pinder
MA RSW RCC BCRPT
Registered Social Worker, Clinical Counsellor & Play Therapist
Ladona has over twenty years of experience working with individuals, children, parents, and couples. Her work experiences have included employment as a child care provider, a child protection social worker, an adoption social worker, and an individual, couples and family counsellor. She is registered as a Social Worker in Alberta and British Columbia and as a Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors. Ladona's collective experience has provided her with knowledge and experience related to navigating family court systems and she is skilled in providing support to families that are navigating child protection related court and other high conflict family matters.
With a family system, attachment, trauma, and culturally sensitive lens, Ladona approaches each individual and family with a deep appreciation for their unique circumstances. Drawing from her personal and professional background, she brings valuable insights to her counselling work with families and children, whether they are navigating divorce, blending families, or involved in adoption.
**Ladona is currently accepting new clients for online counselling sessions ONLY**
Michelle Mills
BA MA RCC
Counselling Associate/ Registered Clinical Counsellor
Michelle completed her MA in Counselling Psychology and holds a degree in Child and Youth Care with almost a decade of valuable experience working supportively with children, youth, and adults. For the past four years, she has dedicated her efforts to a school environment, providing assistance 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, RCC
Counselling Associate/ Registered Clinical Counsellor
Chaowen, a Registered Clinical Counsellor with BCACC, brings over 10 years of expertise supporting children, youth, adults, and families on their therapeutic journeys. With specialized training in therapeutic modalities like Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness Self-compassion, Complex Trauma, and Prepare/Enrich couple counseling, she offers diverse and effective interventions.
Educated in China, United States and France, Chaowen initiated her career in Human Resources at IBM, where she enjoyed assisting individuals in reaching their optimal selves. Driven by a profound desire to empower others further, she continued her studies at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Master's Degree in Developmental Psychology in 2016.
Elizabeth Stetar
Mediator/Parent Support Associate
Elizabeth Stetar has worked a Social Worker with the Ministry of Children and Family Development with over a decade of experience in social services. Based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, she is passionate about supporting families and enhancing parenting capacities to improve the lives of her clients, their families and the broader community.
Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care and a Social Services Diploma from Vancouver Island University. Her career has been marked by her commitment to client satisfaction and her ability to foster strong relationships with individuals and community organizations.
Throughout her tenure with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Elizabeth has held various roles, including Child Protection Social Worker and Acting Team Leader. In her most recent position, she served on the Intake, Assessment, and Response Under 12 and High-Risk Pregnancy Team, where she was responsible for conducting safety assessments and implementing care plans for at-risk children. Her experience includes making court applications for child protection and serving as a legal guardian for children in temporary care.
Petal
Therapy Dog in Training
Meet Petal! She is the newest addition to the Allius team. Bringing warmth and comfort, Petal plays a unique role in our clinic, helping clients to feel welcome and comforted. Her joyful presence and cuddly greetings boost morale and promote conversation in clients.
As a therapy dog in training, Petal is learning to interact with clients of all ages, providing non-judgmental companionship and a sense of security. Her gentle demeanor and intuitive nature make her a useful tool for sessions, especially ones involving children, youth, and families.
Petal is not just a pet; she is an integral part of our therapeutic process. Her interactions with clients help in reducing anxiety, improving mood, and enhancing the clients' overall experience. Animal-assisted therapy is a newer field in the mental health world, however resarch continues to prove just how helpful these furry faces can be when practicing counselling and mental health 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.
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Allius Counselling and Family Mediation Services serves clients across Nanaimo, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Ladysmith, Chemainus, Port Alberni, and the surrounding areas.
Allius Counselling and Family Mediation 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.