Our founder, Dr. Geoff Pawson, established Ranch Ehrlo with a vision of providing services to individuals with the most complex needs. Over the past 60 years, that vision has grown into a multi-service agency delivering a wide range of accredited mental health and developmental services across Saskatchewan (Ranch Ehrlo Society, 2026).
Ehrlo Counselling opened its doors in Regina in September 1998, rooted in Dr. Pawson’s belief that counselling should be accessible to individuals who fell “outside of the parameters of other service providers in the community” (Pawson, 2004). Recognizing gaps in the services available at the time, he envisioned a counselling service that would bridge those gaps and ensure that individuals could access support when they needed it.
Since its inception, Ehrlo Counselling has grown into a multidisciplinary team of Registered Psychologists, master’s-prepared social workers, and Canadian Certified Counsellors. While our team and services have evolved, our commitment to Dr. Pawson’s original vision remains at the heart of what we do: providing inclusive, timely, and accessible counselling services to all who need them.
As a division of Ranch Ehrlo Society, Ehrlo Counselling continues to uphold this vision by serving individuals throughout Regina and the surrounding communities. Our services are available on a self-referral basis, welcoming individuals to seek support directly, without needing to access other Ranch Ehrlo programs or services first.
At its core, Ehrlo Counselling is built on the belief that everyone deserves access to support, understanding, and the opportunity to work toward positive change.
As we continue to build on Dr. Pawson’s vision, we recognize that providing meaningful and inclusive counselling requires more than access to services alone. It calls us to reflect on our relationships with the communities we serve and reinforces the importance of deepening our understanding of Indigenous histories and experiences. As a team, we are committed to taking meaningful steps toward truth and reconciliation.
In our ongoing journey toward truth and reconciliation, in 2022 Ehrlo Counselling Services took part in a traditional Cree naming ceremony and feast on Treaty 4 Territory in Regina. During this ceremony, Elder Alvin named us Thundering Buffalo Lodge, The Learning House. The buffalo represents strength and perseverance through life’s storms, and Elder Alvin described Thundering Buffalo Lodge as a place that walks alongside people as they navigate their own life challenges. Receiving this name was both an honour and a responsibility.
In embracing this traditional name, we are committing in a real and meaningful way to reconciliation. We recognize the deep impacts of colonization and honor the resilience, knowledge, and identities of Indigenous peoples. Integrating this name into our identity helps guide us in creating counselling spaces that are inclusive, respectful, and culturally safe for Indigenous clients, families, and communities.