Aviva Brill, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

“Vulnerability is not weakness, it’s our greatest measure of courage.”
— Brene Brown

I am deeply invested in my clients’ growth and development from the smallest challenges to the most difficult issues. I believe there is profound healing in feeling seen, heard and understood. I do this through a practical and intuitive approach that allows clients to both explore and be guided. I use a combination of approaches from Cognitive Behavioral to Task-Centered and Solution-Focused theories. I believe a multi-modality, holistic approach supports the whole client even when the focus is on a specific issue.

Taking a holistic, multi-modality approach with my clients provides more tools for creative exploration, discovery and problem solving. This range of tools rests upon a solid foundation of trust-building and providing a safe, non-judgmental space. I specialize in parenting, aging parents, communication in relationships with partners and children, workplace challenges and transitions, and management of time, stress and anxiety.

APPROACH

    • I am a graduate of U Chicago’s Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice. My areas of study were both clinical and community development focused.

    • I earned a holistic health coach certification from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition where I expanded my understanding of people and how external factors and personal choices impact their daily lives.

    • I spent 16 years managing government contracts, programs and teams in workforce development in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. As a result, I worked with diverse populations from executives to disenfranchised people. The diversity of responsibilities I had, combined with the diversity of people I worked with as a manager and direct service provider, deepened my insight and perspective on the broad range of human experiences and challenges.

I have always been drawn to creative solutions to problem solving by identifying readily available resources. In working with clients, I love shining a light on what they present in session but may not be able to see for themselves, taking that critical information and supporting them in formulating a new mindset or plan of action. This is exciting to me! I believe this process is energizing and hope-inspiring and creates a positive ripple effect far beyond the client or the session.

AVIVA’S FAVORITE PART ABOUT BEING A THERAPIST

UNIQUE WORK EXPERIENCE

Before joining SG Therapy Group, I functioned as a life coach for 7 years providing skill, interest and career exploration to a wide range of clients. I bring these tools and knowledge to SG Therapy Group as a tie-in for clients who are struggling with work-related items such as:

  • Personality politics

  • Communication challenges

  • Not feeling seen, heard or understood

  • Being placed in a skill or interest mismatch

  • Wanting a new job but feeling scared or stuck

  • Needing to switch careers and feeling overwhelmed/not knowing where to begin

All of these can be tackled through an approach that is tailored to the client, understanding their needs and accessible resources.

I also use career coaching to inform my approach in treatment. The coaching aspect can be distinguished as being:

  • Goal specific

  • Present to future focused

  • Lasts for approximately 3-6 months

  • Explores the intersection of skills and interests

  • Dependent on action steps taken outside of sessions

If you are a new or current client interested in learning more, please reach out for a consultation. We would love to help you navigate this complex challenge!

FUN FACTS ABOUT AVIVA

DEVOTED JOURNALER

PARENT TO ONE TEENAGER & TWO ENORMOUS DOGS

LIFE-LONG DANCER

Aviva’s Testimonials

  • "When I met Aviva, I was excited for what my future had in store for me but wasn't sure how to tap into it. Aviva helped me see that I held the pieces of the puzzle for my life in my hands. Everything I needed, I had all along. She guided me to a clear path and in three short months, my life has completely fallen into place. Without Aviva, I would still be trying to figure things out."

  • “Simply put, Aviva’s combination of focused listening, perceptiveness, and empathetic style helps you see new possibilities in yourself and that in itself is powerful. I went to see her at the start of a job search for one session and left feeling more confident, motivated, and optimistic. Soon after, my job search took on momentum, and I have now found the right fit in my new workplace.”

  • “Very little surprises Aviva.”

  • “I love working with Aviva Brill. She is smart, funny, organized, reliable, and so very intuitive. Aviva lives her authentic self and challenges me to do the same.”

  • “Aviva is supportive, non-judgmental, an excellent listener and quick to understand. In our time working together my home has become a more efficient, organized and beautiful place to be. Most importantly, she helped me to see that my lack of self-care had compromised my physical and mental health. Because of this revelation and the resulting strategies she helped me identify, I am enjoying better health, better habits, and a more hopeful outlook.”