Seeking Bougainvillea Whisperer

My 19 year old Bougainvillea is gorgeous and thriving, but it has taken over my very, very small backyard.  And it's terribly difficult (and painful!) to prune.  I don't think I've ever done it properly, but clearly it does well despite that.  I'm seriously considering having it removed, but it's beautiful.  Perhaps if I can find someone who really knows bougainvillea, he or she can counsel me about whether it can be drastically cut back (and thus return my limited yard space to me) and even trained to grow differently.  Any suggestions appreciated.