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Aviva Brill, LCSW

“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

Book
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  • • I earned my master's degree from the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, with clinical and community-development areas of study.

    • I earned a holistic health coach certification from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, expanding my understanding of how personal choices, environment, and daily life can affect overall well-being.

    • Before becoming a therapist, I spent 16 years managing government contracts, programs, and teams in workforce development across for-profit and nonprofit settings. Working with people across roles and backgrounds gave me a broad perspective on workplace dynamics, career development, communication, and life transitions.

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 spent seven years providing life and career coaching focused on skill, interest, and career exploration. Combined with my background in workforce development, this experience informs my work with clients navigating workplace stress, communication challenges, career changes, professional identity, and feeling stuck or uncertain about what comes next. Some of the common challenges I help clients navigate include:

  • Personality politics

  • Communication issues

  • 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

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DEVOTED JOURNALER

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PARENT TO ONE TEENAGER

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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.”