Anna Richards, MCP
Welcome. I was born and raised in Vancouver, and my path into counselling, conflict coaching, and training came from a desire to close the gap between what I felt and what I could express. I wanted to learn how to have hard conversations, trust my instincts, and stop forcing versions of me that didn’t fit. Facing those challenges changed my life, and that same inward look now shapes the work I do with clients.
I hold a master’s degree in counselling psychology and certification in third‑party mediation. I’m the vice‑president of The Neutral Zone Coaching & Consulting and a faculty member in the Conflict Resolution program at the Justice Institute of British Columbia. I am also training in AEDP, an attachment‑based, emotion‑focused therapeutic model.
Each person who walks into the room brings their own history and way of making sense of the world. My first aim is to listen deeply and meet clients where they are. Therapy involves risk—speaking honestly, revisiting old wounds, and examining the ways we hold ourselves back. It takes courage to do this work.
I’ve benefitted greatly from therapy throughout my life, and it’s a privilege to support others as they move toward more authentic self‑expression and meaningful engagement with the world.
Individual Therapy
People seek counselling for many reasons—work stress, relationship difficulties, major life changes, or simply feeling stuck. These moments can make it hard to know what to do next. When we’re grounded rather than in fight‑or‑flight, the path forward becomes clearer. Therapy offers a place to regain that steady footing. My practice is trauma‑informed.
Couples Therapy
I work with couples at pivotal moments—conflict, early parenting, infidelity, gender transition, shifts in sexuality, and separation. I offer a neutral, supportive space where partners can take risks, speak honestly, and practice more respectful ways of relating.
WORKPLACE CONSULTING
As the Vice President of The Neutral Zone Coaching & Consulting, I work with clients who want to effectively lead lead their teams while maintaining a positive culture.
At The Neutral Zone, we offer individual coaching, mediation, training, presentations and investigations. Visit us at www.theneutralzone.ca
About MY Work
I meet with individuals, couples, and groups as they navigate childhood trauma, infidelity, depression, anxiety, abuse, workplace conflict, suicidality, and questions of identity.
My first priority is creating a trusting relationship where clients feel safe to ask hard questions, take risks, and stay with difficult emotions. This work is also about growing ourselves—often in ways that are uncomfortable, and sometimes painful.
Our emotions shape how we experience life. They bring vitality, joy, resilience, and clarity, but learning to work with them takes practice. When we do, life becomes more grounded and authentic.
Trauma, neglect, or profound loss can bury our real emotions beneath protective defenses, leaving us distant and stuck. Having spent much of my own life braced against real and perceived threats, I understand how challenging it can be to open up.
While you set the agenda in each session, my role is to hold the space and stay curious with you. This kind of exploration can feel vulnerable, uncomfortable, even frustrating at times—all of it completely normal.
Many people come to me during major transitions—break‑ups, divorce, career changes, gender transition, workplace conflict, or loss. These moments often trigger stress, anxiety, depression, and burnout, but with the right support they can also open the door to new possibilities and growth. Through connection and steady guidance, these changes become more manageable, and you begin to move forward with greater clarity and ease.
Professional Qualifications
- Registered Clinical Counsellor (BC)
- Conflict Coach and Mediator
- Instructor and Coach at the Centre for Conflict Resolution, Justice Institute of British Columbia
- Vice President, The Neutral Zone Coaching & Consulting
Education
- Master Degree in Counselling Psychology, Adler School of Counselling Psychology
- Certificate in Third Party Mediation, Justice Institute of British Columbia
- Certificate in Arbitration, ADR Institute of BC
- Bachelor Degrees, English Literature & Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria
Additional Training
- Essential Skills in AEDP, AEDP Institute
- Accelerated Healing Based on Attachment Style, AEDP Institute
- Clinical Hypnosis Training, Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis
- LGBTQ Mental Heath, Adler School of Counselling Psychology
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