Free yourself from the past and step into a new future.
Meet Vivienne Livingstone, therapist for women in Calgary, AB
You go to bed each night promising yourself tomorrow will be different …only to wake up to the same old struggles day after day.
Women come to me feeling “trapped” in unhealthy patterns, pain, or a certain stage in life. Some struggle with self-doubt, people-pleasing, and putting others’ needs ahead of their own. Some carry the weight of trauma—that leaves them feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Others work as helping professionals struggling to maintain a professional mask while feeling triggered or burned out.
Sound familiar?
No matter how hard you try—and you’ve tried a lot—a peaceful and fulfilling life still feels out of reach. The pain you thought you left behind keeps getting in the way and all the work you’ve put in so far hasn’t made a real difference. You’re realizing it’s time to find someone—and something—to help you get to the root of it.
I get it because I’ve been there myself.
I know firsthand that sometimes this stuff feels so big and heavy that you just want to quit. I’ve walked through trauma, wrestled with anxiety, and come out the other side. So when we work together, you won’t just get a trained therapist. You’ll get someone who understands what you’re experiencing.
How I work
I help women like you…
The ones who really want to work through their pain and heal their wounds, but just need some help getting there.
Given everything you’ve been through it’s understandable that you feel the way you do. I’m here to help you get to the root of your feelings, uncover what’s been holding you back, and really understand what’s going on beneath the surface. We’ll work together to explore your experiences, find the strengths you already have, and build on them so you can move forward with more clarity and confidence.
I use transformational therapies—like EMDR and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).
I integrate other therapies like IFS Informed Parts Work, somatic and polyvagal techniques, tailored to your unique needs. The beauty of this approach is that it’s flexible and customized—all focused on what works best for you. I stay committed to ongoing training, so you can feel confident that the support you’re receiving is always informed by the most up-to-date therapeutic approaches.
Throughout our work together, I’ll be right beside you—collaborative, compassionate, and gently challenging you when you need it to stay on track. I’m comfortable with big feelings and difficult conversations, and I believe in your innate ability to heal and grow.
I’m here to show you that with a little extra support, you already have everything you need within you to create the life you want.
Some of the methods I use…
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EMDR helps you process past trauma, distressing events, and painful memories that are keeping you stuck. Using bilateral stimulation, EMDR helps rewire how your brain stores these memories, neutralizing the emotional charge. It's especially helpful for people dealing with trauma, anxiety, or any distressing event that keeps resurfacing.
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ART is a fast and effective approach to help you resolve distressing memories, negative thoughts, and emotional patterns. Combining the power of eye movements with other well-established therapeutic techniques, ART harnesses your brain's natural healing abilities to help you rewrite your story and access rapid healing. It offers relief for those who may not have seen success in traditional talk therapy, who prefer not to talk about their experiences, or who need a quicker process for healing from trauma and anxiety.
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If you feel stuck and unable to reach your goals despite your hard work, you may have unresolved conflict between parts of yourself. Parts Work is a powerful therapy that gives voice to the parts of you that feel hurt, or unheard. Parts Work resolves internal conflict so you can move forward and heal from trauma.
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Our bodies store emotions and trauma. Somatic therapy helps you tune in and release tension, anxiety and stress that has built up over time. It is a powerful approach that helps people regulate and feel safe in their bodies.
Polyvagal Informed Therapy
Polyvagal Informed Therapy helps you understand your own nervous system, signs of stress, and why you cannot just think your way out of your reactions to trauma. With practise it helps you learn to regulate, connect with calm, and respond rather than react.Observed and Experiential Therapy (OEI)
OEI is a somatic therapy that evolved from EMDR and uses an eye movement technique to gently process and release trauma stored in the brain and nervous system. OEI addresses symptoms like anxiety, phobias, dissociation, negative self-talk, and other challenges. OEI is similar to Brainspotting and can lead to emotional release, growth of insight, and deep healing.
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My approach is flexible and tailored to your unique situation. I draw from evidence-based therapies and integrate them to create a personalized plan that fits you. This ensures you get the most effective tools to address your specific needs, whether that’s trauma, anxiety, or personal growth.
My background
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Masters of Clinical Social Work
Recipient of Dr. Gayla Rogers Medal of Excellence
BA in International Indigenous Studies
BA (Hons) - UK
Registered Social Worker
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Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (CCTS-I)
EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist
Certified Master Level Accelerated Resolution Therapist (ART)
Observed and Experiential Integration Therapy (OEI)
Flash Technique
Polyvagal Informed Therapy
EMDR & Complex PTSD
Ego State Therapy, Structural Dissociation & EMDR
IFS-Informed Trainings
Trauma-Informed Stabilization Therapy (TIST)
Body-Based Somatic Regulation
Body-Focused Expressive Arts Therapy for Trauma
Trauma Centre – Trauma Sensitive Yoga
Anti-Racism Anti-Colonization Training
Mindfulness in Trauma Treatment
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Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW)
EMDR Canada
EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
International Society of Accelerated Resolution Therapy (IS-ART)
International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD)
Explore the power within you to create lasting change.
Sessions available for you in-person and online in Calgary, AB. Schedule a complimentary consultation below.