Welcome! I’m Dr. Ronald Ma, but most of my clients just call me Ron depending on what feels most comfortable for them. There are many different reasons people come to see me for counselling. You might come in with something specific in mind and know what you need already, or that might be exactly what you’re trying to figure out. And even if you do know, it can often be difficult to express. For some clients, they’d like to return to the way things were at a previous point in time, whereas for others they’d like to find new ways of being or relating to others that they haven’t yet explored. Wherever you’re at in your process of personal growth or healing, I’m here to join with and help you on your journey.

Background and Training

A Vancouver native, I graduated with my B.Sc. from UBC before moving to New York for my M.S. in Mental Health Counseling at The University at Albany, SUNY, followed by my doctorate from Springfield College’s APA-accredited Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology program in Massachusetts. I completed my APA-accredited pre-doctoral internship at San José State University and my postdoctoral residency at The University of California, San Diego. I then worked as a licensed psychologist at The University of Washington in Seattle, where I also supervised pre-doctoral interns, prior to moving back to Vancouver and joining Richmond Counselling & Wellness.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with a very diverse range of individuals across various life stages in university, community mental health, and residential settings. I’ve been in clinical practice now for 10 years and have experience with many different presenting concerns, including depression, anxiety, social and intimate relationship challenges, interpersonal trauma, family-related concerns, and identity exploration.

How I Work

My practice is highly integrative and based on a strong client-centered foundation of compassionate care and non-judgment. Depending on the client’s needs and preferences, we may engage in a combination of solution-focused, behavioral work, as well as more open-ended, exploratory depth work. I often integrate cognitive-behavioral and attachment-based approaches in my work with clients. I work together with clients in pursuing insights and moving towards values-congruent behavioral changes that you wish to see in your life. More broadly, I work from an anti-oppression framework that examines the external and systemic barriers clients may face, including those belonging to underrepresented and marginalized groups, in order to provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed care.

What Does a First Session Look Like?

Whether you’ve had past therapy experiences or it’s your first time, it can still be intimidating to meet with someone new and to figure out if you feel like it’s a good fit for you. My greatest priority is to create a safe environment for you as the client, which forms the foundation of the therapeutic space and relationship between us. Typically, the first session is a conversation about what brings you to counselling and exploring your current needs. It also involves reviewing your personal history and the intake forms that you completed beforehand, which might be a familiar part of the process to you. I try to make this feel more like a conversation than an interview to start understanding your story and who you are as a person, what’s getting in the way of your needs being met, and to discuss what our work together might look like.

Thanks for checking out my page. I hope this gives you a good idea of how I work and I look forward to meeting you if you decide to schedule an appointment with me. Please note that I am currently only seeing clients via telehealth and am not accepting new couples/relationship counselling clients.

Welcome! I’m Dr. Ronald Ma, but most of my clients just call me Ron depending on what feels most ... Read More

Sheri Poulsen, M.A., R.C.C., Registered Clinical Counsellor & Certified Body-Mind Psychotherapist

A compassionate space awaits you. If you are reaching out for help, I invite you to book an appointment with me. I’ll provide you with a safe, warm space so you can take your next steps forward. By starting counselling, you can give yourself a fresh start and chance to stand up for yourself and your self-care. If you’re suffering from a life challenge or crisis, many people feel less overwhelmed after accessing counselling support. You do not need to face your struggle alone. You’ll have my heartfelt accompaniment. Together, we’ll explore a path forward that feels right to you. In working with me, you’ll also have an opportunity to enrich your life with greater meaning and depth, and discover more inner freedom and empowerment.

My Training & Approach

I’m certified as a Registered Clinical Counsellor and have a Masters Degree in Counselling Psychology from The University of British Columbia (2003). I am trained and certified in talk therapy and Body-Mind Psychotherapy. As a Body-Mind Psychotherapist, I often offer clients support with ‘embodiment’ – the gentle deep listening to emotional sensations moving in the body. Embodiment can help build self-compassion and self-valuing and give us important and clear information about how we feel and what we may need. Embodiment can help individuals move through strong emotion by connecting to our whole selves. I’m also a Pain Management Specialist certified by PainBC. I have worked with individuals facing complex issues connected to stress, mood, identity, relationships, pain, injury, illness, and grief as they find greater wellness in their life, and lower elevated stress and pain responses in the body. I approach each person with a respect for their unique holistic health, values and inner resources. I utilize evidence-based tools and strategies and help clients develop a more compassionate way of relating to oneself in body, mind, emotions, relationships, unique life context and personal development. I offer my clients a contemplative space to heal and grow in the ways they choose. Helping people connect to their self-value, wholeness, and capacity is something I hold dear to my heart. In my life and in my work as a counsellor, I have experienced that each of us can develop and grow through the many stages and even the most painful challenges of our life. I encourage you to take your first step towards wellness with us at Richmond Counselling & Wellness, a place of authentic welcome and care. You are worth it.

Sheri Poulsen, M.A., R.C.C., Registered Clinical Counsellor & Certified Body-Mind Psychothera... Read More

Christy Waisman is a seasoned therapist with extensive experience working with complex issues and diverse populations. Christy graduated with a Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology from Adler University in 2008 and been practicing as a Child and Family Therapist with a MCFD-funded agency since then. Christy has also worked at the Burnaby Youth Clinic for five fast-paced years and for three years was chosen by Quest University to be their Clinical Counsellor. The university counselling broadened Christy’s expertise in working with international youth focusing on academic, career, personal and social adjustment issues. As part of her commitment to continuing education, she has completed post-graduate training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is a trained Sexual Abuse Intervention Program counsellor.

Christy believes in the ability for families and individuals to learn new strategies for coping and brings to each session a sense of optimism and positivity. As a counsellor, Christy excels in working with adolescents, teens, young adults and parents. She is trained to facilitate STEP parenting groups and is passionate about working with families providing support and educations based on the principles of Alfred Adler. The issues she most often sees in her practice are anxiety, self-esteem, trauma, sexual abuse, depression, parent-child conflict, anger management and bullying. She also works with many youth who are GLBTQ.

While primarily an Adlerian therapist, Christy draws upon other psychological theories such as Attachment Theory, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Solution Focused Therapy as needed.

Christy has two children who help keep her up-to-date on adolescent and teen issues. Prior to becoming a counsellor, Christy worked for a local airline, volunteered for the Coast Guard Auxiliary on their fast-response vessels and spent summers during university as a fishing guide. These practical experiences create a unique counselling environment when working with adolescents and youth as she has a variety of real-life experiences to draw upon.

Christy Waisman is a seasoned therapist with extensive experience working with complex issues and... Read More

I’m Dr. Jonathan McVicar, but I prefer that my clients call me Jonathan if they’re comfortable with that. My belief, when it comes to counselling, is that most people don’t want to come for counselling for the rest of their life. They usually want help with an area or aspect of their life that is causing them pain or discomfort and once that issue is resolved, they want to go back to living without counselling. This is my goal in working with my clients. How I usually explain it is that my job is to put myself out of a job and I take this very seriously.

Background and Training

I’ve often had clients ask me about my training and how long I’ve been counselling and I’m always happy to provide this information as I want my clients to have confidence in my ability to help them. I’ve been working with clients now for 20 years around many issues such as: depression, anxiety, relationship challenges (including infidelity, and divorce / separation among others), grief and loss, trauma and abuse, OCD, and personal growth.

All of my degrees come from UBC (BA, MA, and PhD) with my graduate degrees being in Counselling Psychology. I completed my Doctoral Internship and was hired on as an Assistant Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s Counselling Centre in St. John’s, NL where my wife Kelly and I lived for 3 years.

How I Work

The style of counselling I’ve been trained in is Client-Centered in its approach. What this means is that one of the most important things to me is that my clients always feel cared for as they’re telling me about their lives. I want them always to feel and understand that their concerns matter and that they are never being judged for any of the thoughts, feelings, or behaviours that they tell me about.

I use a variety of different techniques and approaches based on the concerns that each person brings in. However, as each person that I’ve ever met is a unique individual, it’s impossible and ineffective to try to use the same technique with every person. What this means is that I tailor my sessions to the need of each person based on their goals, backgrounds, personality, and learning styles.

I’m Dr. Jonathan McVicar, but I prefer that my clients call me Jonathan if they’re comfortable wi... Read More

About me:

I am a registered psychologist who works with adolescents and adults dealing with anxiety, depression, addictions, grief/loss, conflict management, work stress, life transitions, and self-esteem. My personal experience with immigration and the interest I have in my clients’ cultural understanding and background, allows me to work well clients who want to explore their cultural identity, address issues related to diversity and acculturation, or need help with the challenges related to immigration and settlement.

My goal is to create a supportive and non- judgemental atmosphere in which clients feel safe and empowered to explore and address life’s challenges. I find it immensely rewarding to see clients leave the therapy process with a renewed understanding of themselves and the desire to practice novel behaviours. I feel privileged to help enact change and renewal through the therapeutic relationship. By working collaboratively with each person, I aim to accompany clients as they grow, thrive, and discover their full potential during the course of therapy.

My therapeutic approaches consist of well-researched treatment approaches including: Solution Focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Emotion Focused Therapy. As the needs of each person are unique, I believe in creating a personalized therapeutic experience for each client.

If you choose to work with me, it would be an honour to assist you in creating the enthusiasm-filled, satisfying life you deserve.

Credentials:

• Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia 2013 – Present

• Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of Alberta 2012- 2013

• M.A. in Counselling Psychology, Yorkville University, 2010

• B.A. Psychology, University of British Columbia, 2007

Professional Associations:

• Canadian Psychologists Association

Interests:

I enjoy reading, travelling, trying new restaurants, and participating in group fitness. I also love spending time outdoors enjoying the beauty and green spaces Vancouver has to offer. For relaxation, I enjoy listening to music, taking walks on the beach, or spending time with my family. I am passionate about volunteering within my Religious community and actively assist in planning health related events for seniors and youth.

About me: I am a registered psychologist who works with adolescents and adults dealing with anxi... Read More

I hold Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia and I am certified by Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association as a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC). My therapeutic approach includes Cognitive-Behavioural theory with roots in Positive Psychology that focuses on a person’s strengths, desire to live meaningful and fulfilling life, and cultivating the best within themselves to enhance their life experiences. I also integrate Mindfulness-based interventions to help my clients to focus on the present moments to bring awareness to the internal processes and understanding of the thoughts and behavior patterns.

My professional experience includes working with a wide range of clients concerns, including anxiety, depression, stress management, dealing with transitional times, career issues, relational and communication problems and many others. I know very well life can be difficult sometimes and we all need a little encouragement, guidance, and support to get through rough times. I will meet you where you are and stay with you throughout your journey to successful change.

I strongly believe that a compassionate and trusting therapeutic alliance is one of the keys to successful change, therefore one of my main goals is to create a safe and warm environment for the client to be able to share their concerns. Together we will identify the issues to be worked on, develop the treatment plan and strategies to reach the goals of the therapy.

I enjoy helping the clients to learn how to be aware of their thinking and behavioural patterns, to bring awareness to their emotional states and, generally, to understand their inner self better. I build interventions tailored to each individual client’s needs to help them to manage and change their emotions, behaviours and to cope with whatever they are dealing with. I do that through a combination of listening, understanding, sharing the experience with the client, and gently guiding towards the change.

My multicultural background and immigration experience help me to relate well to clients experiencing difficulties with acculturation and immigration and helps me to connect with people of diverse ethnic backgrounds. I do have respect and appreciation for differing views, as well as the ability to build a good rapport with diverse populations in multicultural settings.

I am is also offering Brief Therapy approach in my practice. Brief therapy is a model of counselling that emphasizes the use of short-term, solution-focused techniques to help clients achieve their goals in a relatively short period of time. The goal of brief therapy is to help clients identify and utilize their own strengths and resources to solve problems and make positive changes in their lives. This approach is often used in situations where clients have specific, well-defined problems that can be addressed in a limited number of sessions. Brief therapy is typically time-limited, with the number of sessions ranging from a few (typically 6-8) to 20. The focus is on the present and future and helping the client to find the solution, rather than dwelling on the past. Techniques used in brief therapy may include goal-setting, problem-solving, and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). Please, contact us if you have any questions about this model.

If you wish to have more information about me or my availability, please contact our office. I look forward to meeting you and the opportunity to work with you!

I hold Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology from the University of British Columbia an... Read More

I am Andrew Lee and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC # 2550). I am dedicated to providing personalized therapy to clients seeking healing, treatment, support, and guidance for various mental health difficulties and life challenges. I empower individuals to cultivate a greater sense of meaning, purpose, peace, joy, and self-compassion in life.

With over 18 years of experience in the field, I have treated many adolescents and adults from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds and helped them overcome:

Depression, Loneliness/Isolation, Couple/ Intimate relationship problems, Sadness, Anger, Anxiety, Fear, Shame/Guilt, Mood Swing, Impulsivity, Psychosis, Dissociation, Suicidal Ideation, Self-Harm, Borderline Personality, Trauma, Work related Issues Disordered Eating, Substance Use, Low Self-Esteem, Life/School/Family/Work Problems, Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours, Neurodivergent Challenges.

It is my great passion to provide marriage/couple counselling and enhance intimate and romantic relationships to help nurture healthy love/attachment, emotion connection, and effective communication.

I am highly experienced and effective in treating emotional and behavioural dysregulation and performing skills training and coaching so that clients can become more and more resilient with the skills and strategies I help them acquire. While treating adolescent clients, I have also helped many parents and caregivers address various parenting and attachment concerns and supported them in improving their own mental health well-being. In my practice, I collaborate with psychiatrists, psychologists, counsellors, occupational therapists, and academic/educational professionals when necessary.

As I focus on building a warm, compassionate, inspirational, collaborative, and effective therapeutic relationship, I am committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment where clients and their family members can feel validated and accepted so they can freely discuss their struggles and work towards healing and growth.

I utilize Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), DBT-Prolonged Exposure (DBT-PE), DBT Abstinence, Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT), Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Exposure Therapy, mindfulness-based approach, metacognitive approach, Client-Directed Outcome-informed Therapy (CDOI), harm reduction, and other evidence-based therapeutic modalities to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs.** I offer in-person and virtual sessions and I offer weekday and weekend sessions. Furthermore, I am able to provide services in Mandarin (我可以提供中文服務).

I have provided counselling and treatment to many working professionals from different fields, industries, and working environments to help them manage and cope with their work and personal issues, enhance their strength, explore their roles and transitions, and develop their future goals and visions.

Other than the regular 50-minute individual sessions and parent sessions, I specifically provide adapted and extended 80-minute DBT individual therapy sessions to help clients who suffer with moderate/severe/complex emotional, behavioural, and/or interpersonal dysfunction as well as borderline personality traits.

As I am blessed with having DBT clinical and therapeutic capacity, I am also a DBT supervisor, trainer, and mentor. In 2017, I completed DBT supervisor and mentor training arranged by the Ministry of Child and Family Development. I have been providing numerous DBT training to mental health and education professionals and developing DBT treatment services in the public system.

In addition to providing therapy and counselling, I was a clinical supervisor and team leader for various mental health programs in Vancouver, including child and adolescent mental health crisis intervention team, DBT team for youth/young adult concurrent disorder, community child & adolescent mental health programs, youth substance use prevention programs, mental health program for alternative education program students, and youth day treatment mental health program.

I thank you very much for visiting my profile page and I would love to have the opportunity to empower and support you through your healing and recovery journey.

I am Andrew Lee and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC # 2550). I am dedicated to providi... Read More

Life can feel stuck sometimes, but please know that you’re not alone.

As a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), I offer a range of therapeutic approaches, including Family Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Expressive Arts Therapy, Solution-focused Therapy, Positive Behavior Support (PBS), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

I believe everyone has unique inner strengths and beauty waiting to be uncovered and nurtured. Despite the complexities of life, I believe you have these inner resources within you, and I value them. As your counsellor, I will be the facilitator on this journey of healing and self-exploration. This is a safe space for you to reflect on yourself and your situation. Please don’t feel burdened by needing the right words or a specific agenda for our sessions. I will be right here with you, helping to organize your thoughts and find the pace and treatment approaches that suit you best. Even if you feel like you have things handled, counselling can always provide a boost for personal growth and renewal. I do this often myself and am continually surprised and amazed by the different sides and potentials within me.

Over the past 8 years, I have worked with families in schools, hospitals, and family centers in Hong Kong and Canada. Since 2015, I have specialized in working with neurodiverse individuals and their families, completing multiple professional certification courses and earning a Master’s degree in Counselling with a focus on Special Needs from The Chinese University of Hong Kong in 2020. I am familiar with ASD, ADHD, Intellectual Disability, and OCD.

I speak fluent English, Cantonese, and Mandarin.

我是加拿大BC省认可的注册临床心理咨询师(RCC #22421)。我常用的心理咨询方向包括家庭治疗 (Family Therapy)、叙事治疗 (Narrative Therapy)、表达艺术治疗 (Expressive Arts Therapy)、焦点解决短期治疗 (Solution-focused Therapy)、正向行为支持 (Positive Behavior Support) 及认知行为治疗 (CBT)。

我深信每个人都是独特而美丽的。无论你正遭遇什么，我相信你同样拥有丰富的内在资源，等待我们去发掘与发展。在咨询的过程中，我会帮助你梳理思绪，和你一同探讨隐藏的根源。这些根源可能正在影响你目前的处境，甚至导致你不断重复陷入相同的境况。你不需要担心如何开始，或不知道要说甚么，我们会一起探索最适合你的辅导计划。即使你觉得一切还好，你也可以通过心理咨询，寻求个人成长与提升。就像保养身体一样，定期照顾精神健康，提升自我，才能活出你本来应有的光彩。

我曾在学校、医院、家庭中心等大型机构工作超过八年。自2015年以来，我开始服务有特殊需要的家庭，并完成多个专修特殊需要的文凭课程。2018年，我在香港中文大学进修了“学校咨询与辅导硕士”，专修“特殊需要”。自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）、注意力失调/多动症（ADHD）、智力障碍（ID）、强迫症（OCD）均是我的专业领域。

我能说流利的英语、普通话和粤语。

Life can feel stuck sometimes, but please know that you’re not alone. As a Registered Clinical C... Read More

My name is Kelly Kavanagh (MA, MEd, R.Psych) co-owner of Richmond Couples and Child Counselling (RCCC), located directly across from the Richmond Hospital. I am a psychologist working exclusively with children, adolescents and families in need of help. Before opening my private practice, I worked in Richmond as a Mental Health Therapist at both the Richmond School Program (RSP) and the Child and Adolescent Program (CAP) and have over 15 years of experience in mental health with children. As I am a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of BC, my clients can use their Extended Health Benefits to get reimbursed for the cost of counselling sessions.

I work exclusively with children and adolescents (ages 3-19) around such issues as: school related problems; ADHD & ADD; behavioural support; separation and divorce; step-families; social skills; anxiety; phobias; OCD; depression; abuse histories; trauma and debriefing; grief and loss; and parenting concerns. I use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Graduated Exposure Therapy, Play Therapy, Sand-tray work, and Art Therapy to help children express themselves, problem-solve, and combat rigid or unhealthy thoughts or beliefs, and make new meaning of traumatic situations. During family therapy sessions I advocate for the needs of children when parents are trapped in divorce or separation proceedings and offer parenting strategies to deal with diagnoses that impact the whole family.

I have successfully treated children with a variety of issues as an Alcohol and Drug Counsellor, a Child-Abuse Treatment Counsellor, a Brief-Intervention Counsellor, a Mental Health Therapist in the community, and a crisis response therapist with the Child and Adolescent Response Team (CART) in Vancouver. These work experiences and my work with RSP and CAP have allowed for lots of experience collaborating with school staff, classroom teachers, school counsellors, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians to assist children with mental health issues. My additional training as a teacher and special educator helps direct my work with children struggling with ADD or ADHD and other school related issues and helps me understand the constraints of the classroom environment.

In my private practice at RCCC, I work very closely with parents to make sure that we set up an environment where children can have the best chance of academic, social, and behavioural success and a harmonious, happy and loving space at home for all family members.

If you have any questions about how I could help you and your family, please contact me by email or phone. I would be happy to talk with you about the services I provide, my fees or any other questions you may have.

I would be delighted to get the opportunity to work with you and your family and help put your child(ren) on the path to a happier and healthier childhood.

My name is Kelly Kavanagh (MA, MEd, R.Psych) co-owner of Richmond Couples and Child Counselling (... Read More