As a Registered Social Worker and Psychotherapist, I provide therapy for a wide variety of concerns including (but not limited to):

- Adjustment issues

- Anxiety

- Attachment concerns (child and adult)

- Behavioural problems

- Depression

- Emotion regulation (e.g., anger)

- Parenting Support 

- Relationship difficulties

- School or work difficulties

- Self-harm

- Trauma and stressor related disorders

- Youth Who Engage in Sexual Offending Behavior (Sexual Behavior Assessments)

Olivia Richardson, BSW, MSW, RSW

Graduate St. Thomas University (BA/BSW) and the University of Waterloo and Renison College(MSW)

Approach

Therapy can help you identify what you are feeling, why you are feeling that way, and how to cope. As a therapist, I aim to aid in this endeavour while creating a safe(r) space for folks to process life’s many challenges and struggles, from relationships to school/work stress and everything in between. I have a passion for holistic, collaborative care and believe in an integrated approach to therapy. I approach all work with a trauma-informed lens and am experienced in utilizing Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Narrative Therapy. I hope to help people better understand themselves and the world around them with empathy and care.

Education and Experience

I am a proud East Coaster hailing from Fredericton, New Brunswick. While still living out east, I completed a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and a Bachelor of Social Work, both from St. Thomas University. I worked for Child Protection in New Brunswick before moving to the beautiful Ottawa Valley in 2018. I learned a lot while in Child Protection and sought a new learning experience upon moving to Pembroke. I have been with The Phoenix Centre for Children and Families since 2019, working primarily with youth and their families in school-based therapy programs. In the Fall of 2022, I was seeking a new challenge, which led me to further my education and pursue a Master’s in Social Work from The University of Waterloo and Renison College.

I recently completed an MSW program focused on health, which allows me to focus on the overall wellness of individuals through pathology and symptoms, paired with a social work lens that prioritizes the person first and understanding one’s circumstances.