Registered Counselling Therapist
Vivien Kukula (Marira) is a deeply compassionate and insightful therapist who brings over a decade of experience to her work with individuals and families. With a foundational BA in Psychology and a Master’s in Marriage and Family Counselling, Vivien’s academic background has equipped her with both clinical expertise and a profound understanding of human relationships, emotional development, and the impact of trauma.
Over the years, Vivien has walked alongside people from all walks of life as they navigate overwhelming emotions, strained relationships, and painful histories. Her early work included over eight years in British Columbia, where she provided direct support to women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse. That experience shaped her sensitivity to trauma, her advocacy for safety and empowerment, and her ability to hold space for deep pain with both empathy and strength.
Now settled back in the Maritimes with her husband and two children, Vivien continues her therapeutic work in private practice, offering a safe, non-judgmental, and restorative space for healing.
Therapeutic Approach
Vivien sees counselling as a journey of connection, self-discovery, and emotional integration. She believes that healing happens in the context of safe relationships—where clients feel heard, understood, and valued.
Her approach is client-centered and collaborative, meaning she works closely with clients to tailor sessions to their unique needs, stories, and goals. Vivien draws on a variety of therapeutic modalities and evidence-based approaches, including:
Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (EFIT) – helping clients identify emotional patterns, heal attachment wounds, and build secure internal resources.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) – supporting individuals in developing self-acceptance and inner kindness, especially in the face of shame and self-criticism.
Narrative Therapy – empowering clients to rewrite painful stories, rediscover personal agency, and find meaning in their experiences.
Family Systems Therapy – exploring family dynamics and patterns that impact current functioning and relationships.
All of this is integrated through a trauma-informed, attachment-based lens, which honors the ways in which early relationships and overwhelming experiences can shape how we relate to ourselves and others.
Vivien believes therapy is more than just a space for insight—it’s a space for transformation. She guides clients to move beyond intellectual understanding and into deeper emotional healing, helping them explore not just what happened, but what they needed, what they felt, and how they can begin to heal.
Areas of Focus
Vivien supports individuals, pre-teens/teens, and families facing a wide range of emotional and relational challenges, including:
Social anxiety and chronic worry
Emotional overwhelm and sensitivity
Low self-esteem and self-worth struggles
Loneliness and relational disconnection
Sensory processing challenges
Stress, burnout, and depressive moods
Anger and emotional dysregulation
Family or parenting conflict
Spirituality
Self-harm and coping difficulties
Communication breakdowns in relationships
She also has a strong interest in supporting Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs)—those who process the world more deeply and often feel emotionally and physically impacted by their environments. Vivien creates space for these clients to understand their sensitivity not as a weakness, but as a profound strength.
Who She Works With
Vivien works with:
Adults seeking healing from past trauma or present emotional challenges
Adolescents navigating anxiety, identity, or family tension
Parents needing support in understanding and guiding their children
Individuals longing for deeper emotional awareness and healthier relationships
People recovering from the impact of spiritual or religious harm