Meet The Team
Brenda C. Goodbody
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Certified Grief Recovery Specialist
Welcome!
My name is Brenda, and I am a Registered Provisional Psychologist licensed to work with clients across Alberta and Nova Scotia. I offer sessions in-person in Calgary or remotely throughout Alberta.
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My clinical approach is grounded in evidence-based techniques drawing on cognitive, somatic, and attachment-based modalities. I work with adults and couples 18+, and extensively (but not exclusively) with vets, techs, tech assistants, and other animal care professionals who are experiencing compassion fatigue, burnout, and moral distress.
I work from a holistic, person-centered approach, drawing on your unique strengths and insights to help you create meaningful change. I am committed to creating a therapeutic relationship that is safe, purposeful, and change oriented.
Some general areas I work with include:
- Stress, burnout, anger, anxiety
- Mood disorders
- Late-diagnosed ADHD and ASD
- Marital conflict, relationship, and communication skills
- Emotional regulation
- Grief, loss, and end-of-life transitions
- Adult adoptees
- Veterinary and animal care professionals - moral fatigue, compassion burnout, exhaustion, trauma
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If you are wondering if we might be a fit - reach out for a complimentary consultation!​​​
I hold a Master of Science in Applied Psychology and am a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist. My undergraduate Honours thesis examined the embodied experience of weight regain after bariatric surgery and was presented to a large audience from the medical community. My Master’s capstone explored the ethical implications of providing a medically assisted death based solely on mental illness.
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I am a staunch advocate for de-stigmatizing mental health and have spent many hours on the other side of the couch, working on my own brokenness and humanity, healing each and every day. My own neurospiciness encompasses ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Bipolar Disorder. I have learned that I am more than a diagnosis, more than my symptoms, and more than my emotions. I am warm, empathetic, deeply compassionate, and have a great sense of humour! I will show up authentically and honestly - leggings, hoodie, slippers and all! You won't find me wearing a suit and blazer - that's not who I am. In turn, I invite you to bring your authentic self - whatever that looks like - swear words, sweatpants, ball cap, or suit and tie! We live in a crazy world full of demands on our time and resources - I invite you to release yourself from that for one hour and just "be" - whatever that looks like for you!
I live and work in a judgement-free zone and am sex-positive and kink-allied. I hold space for ALL humans regardless of sex, gender, religious, or political beliefs. I believe that being alive should not be hard; let's take the first step together to make it fulfilling and whole!
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Prior to my work as a Registered Provisional Psychologist, I spent 30 years as a pet professional in the pet industry and over 20 years in aviation.
Outside of work, I can often be found competing at dog shows with my Pembroke Welsh Corgis, Kevyn and Howard, or hanging out in the sunshine with my pet pig, Jillian. I am also an avid scuba diver and love to seek out great new dive spots!
Five Fun Facts About Me:
I have dove with Great White Sharks!
I donated a kidney to an anonymous recipient in 2021.
I grew up in a military family, having lived all across Canada and in Germany as a child.
I spent 20 years a professional dog trainer and dog sport judge which gave me foundational and advanced training in learning and cognition.
I was adopted at eight months of age, and met my birth mother when I was 26. I chose not to have an ongoing relationship with her.
Kevyn is a four-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi who spent her early years in the conformation ring earning her Canadian Grand Championship. When she'd had enough of that, she moved on to excel in agility, barn hunt, scent hurdle, sheep herding, sprinters, and so many other fun sports! Kevyn has earned her Canine Good Neighbour title as well with the Canadian Kennel Club and is a trained service dog for Brenda. When Kevyn's at the office, she's off-duty from service dog work and on-duty to be as present or absent as you wish. Kevyn lives with her son, Howard, Kaya the Bengal cat, and Jill the mini pig.
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Kevyn has over 30 performance titles with the Canadian Kennel Club and competed at our National Conformation Specialty in Ottawa in 2024. Out of a line-up of 54 Pembrokes she made the final cut of three (she didn't win, but it was an honour to make the cut)!​
Kevyn
Trained Therapy Support Dog
Service Dog to Brenda
Jill is a 14-year-old mini pig who hails from Michigan. She has completed three levels of agility training and one level of nose-work training. She was quite the athlete in her youth! Jill has also spent time at children's preschools and was the star fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House, raising over $500 in two hours in our "Pet a Pig for a Cause" effort! Jill also has the dubious honour of basically earning a Bachelor's degree herself, since she accompanied Brenda to university many days during her undergrad (there was some explaining to do when the university president finally found out Jill had become an unpaying full-time student!)
As an Emotional Support Animal, these days Jill is happy to sleep, and you may find her curled up in her bed and blanket during your session. She will always perk up at the prospect of a treat and spin incessantly in her quest for just one more cookie!​​