What are Vivian Estrada's specialties and areas of expertise?

Vivian Estrada, LCPC specializes in treating anxiety disorders, depression, trauma recovery, life transitions, relationship challenges, and perfectionism. She works with both adults and teens, providing compassionate, evidence-based support for managing overwhelming worry, panic, sadness, and emotional distress. Vivian uses collaborative, client-centered approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness techniques to help clients gain clarity and develop practical coping strategies for lasting change.

Does Vivian Estrada offer therapy in Spanish?

Yes, Vivian Estrada is a fully bilingual therapist who provides therapy sessions in both English and Spanish. She understands the importance of being able to express yourself in the language you're most comfortable with, and she ensures that you can receive culturally sensitive care in your preferred language. Whether you prefer to conduct your entire therapy in Spanish, English, or switch between both languages, Vivian can accommodate your needs.

What therapeutic approaches does Vivian Estrada use?

Vivian uses a collaborative, client-centered approach that blends evidence-based techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused therapy, and mindfulness practices. Her focus is on identifying the root causes of emotional distress—whether that's unresolved trauma, perfectionism, relationship challenges, or life transitions—and building practical coping strategies that create lasting change. Vivian's approach is flexible and tailored to each individual client's needs and goals.

What insurance does Vivian Estrada accept?

Vivian Estrada is in-network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Aetna, Lyra, First Health, and Cigna/Evernorth insurance plans. Shift Counseling will verify your specific benefits and provide an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs before your first appointment to ensure transparency about coverage and costs.

What is Vivian Estrada's background and training?

Vivian Estrada is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with over 5 years of experience. She earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015, and her MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University in 2019. Vivian has worked in various settings including community mental health centers, ABA programs, and programs for people suffering from depression, anxiety, and life challenges. Her personal experience supporting families through difficult times inspired her to pursue a career in counseling where she could provide emotionally connected care.

Amy Stuart, LCSW | Shift Counseling, PC

Experienced Counseling for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Chronic Illness

Hi, I am Amy, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Shift Counseling, PC. I have nearly 25 years of experience as a social worker. I work with teens, young adults and adults. If you are feeling lost, overwhelmed, or confused, I understand. I can help you sort through your feelings, find words, and create clarity where there was once chaos.

I have seen and heard a lot in my many years as a social worker. I have worked in some really tough environments, including inpatient mental health, hospice, and pediatric oncology. While it is true that pain and negativity are always present in our world, I can help you find the joy in life again. I see clients online or in person at our North Riverside office and virtually throughout Illinois.

Who I Work With

Many of my clients have started therapy due to just feeling lost. Others have a specific stressor that brings them in to counseling. I love helping teens and young adults improve their sense of identity. With adult clients, I often find that I can relate to their struggles because of my own life experiences and my 20+ years of experience as a Social Worker. I also work with people who are suffering from chronic illness, or who are caregivers for people with chronic illnesses. I work with people of all backgrounds and orientations.

(For the section below)

what you might be feeling- (chronic illness- stuck and not able to live the life that you want to, trauma- not knowing if you’re ever going to feel like “before” again)

What you’re moving through- (a new diagnosis that feels really scary, or parenting a child who is ill. teens: social problems, feeling emotions so big you might feel like you are about to burst.

Patterns that keep showing up: struggling to find the positive because you feel so stuck all of the time. Confusion about who you are and what you want out of life

What you might be feelingAnxiety that keeps your mind racing, or worry that lands in your body before you can name it
Depression, low motivation, or a flatness that puts the things you used to enjoy out of reach
What you're moving throughTrauma you've never had the space to fully process
Life transitions: a move, a breakup, a career change, new parenthood, or starting over in a new country or culture
Patterns that keep showing upRelationship patterns that keep repeating
Perfectionism and the exhaustion of holding it together for everyone else

View Amy's Schedule and Request an Appointment

What Makes My Approach Different

I will work hard to gain your trust and help you feel heard and understood. You might find yourself opening up about things you never felt you could talk about before. Once you are able to speak about what has been holding you back, you may find the things that felt impossible lose their power. Other times it takes more than just letting things out to feel better- in those cases I can help you make a plan to figure out what is in your control. You don’t have to stay stuck.

For the section below: remove solution-focused therapy and add “DBT skills -learn skills to help you regulate your emotions and choose healthier responses to stress

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

to understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors feed each other, and to build practical coping strategies

Solution-focused therapy

to get clarity and create change you can actually feel in daily life

Mindfulness

to help you steady yourself when everything feels like too much

Therapy can leave you feeling lighter, more confident, and help you reclaim your joy.

Therapy for Adolescents

I understand that most of the time, it is parent or guardian who is actually doing the work of finding a therapist for their teenager. Sometimes the teen asks the parent to help them find a therapist, and sometimes the parent schedules the appointment with a counselor due to concerns about the well-being of their child.

How I work with teens:

Much like my personality, my office is a bright, fun, space that will help teens feel open to expressing themselves. We can be creative, or even silly sometimes. I find that modeling openness to a wide set of feelings can help teens feel safe when it is time to talk about heavier issues. I help them understand that all feelings are a normal part of the human experience. I also help teens learn that all feelings are temporary, which may make it easier for them to tolerate and feel safe with difficult emotions.

Parent/Guardian involvement in teen therapy:

In order for therapy to be successful, your teen has to be open to the idea of seeking counseling. I can help with resistant teens by finding therapy goals that are important to them. Even if you set up the appointment, the counseling sessions are focused on your teenager’s needs and goals. With that being said, I do find that counseling is often more effective when there is parent/guardian involvement. I manage this by building rapport with the teen, and helping them find the boundaries for adult involvement that allow them to feel safe. I will talk to your teen about what specific issues they are open to addressing with a parent or guardian in the room before I invite you in. As long as there are no immediate safety concerns, your teen may choose not to discuss certain subjects in therapy with their parent, and I respect those boundaries. This approach has worked for me through my years of working with teens.

Counseling for Young Adults

So many young adults are struggling today. You may be still recovering from losses that occurred during the pandemic, or feeling overwhelmed by the idea of trying to live a normal adult life in today’s very abnormal world. Milestones that used to be taken for granted like getting married, buying a home, having a rewarding career, and starting a family do not feel accessible in the same way that they used to. The world that you are trying to figure out how to survive in is not the same world that I grew up in. I’m not going to try to tell you that all of the strategies that worked for me are going to work the same for you.

What I can help with is allowing a space for you to be open about feeling overwhelmed without shame. In spite of the many things that feel out of control and hopeless, I can help you find things that you do have control over. Picking a place to start and getting some wins can go a long way towards finding your path in these uncertain times. Some life experiences are universal, such as struggle and confusion, but many of the things that have helped people survive through difficult times are also universal. I can help you find resources and coping strategies that pass the test of time.

Counseling for Teens

Young Adult Therapy

My Path to Becoming a Therapist

A therapist in a beige blazer gently comforts a young woman with curly hair who is covering her face with her hand, resting a supportive hand on her shoulder and head.

I have had an interesting path to becoming a therapist. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics, hoping to help others who suffer from metabolic conditions like me. Once I got into the field, I found I really did not enjoy the work because I was in a dynamic where people felt like they could not be honest with me.

While I was realizing that being a dietician may not be right fit for me, a friend of mine was going into social work and I found myself browsing the course catalog for her degree. I was so excited by the idea of learning about the topics described in these courses. I decided it was time to change directions and pursue Social Work. This does feel like the right field for me.

Through my many years of experience as a Social Worker, what keeps me going is my desire to keep learning and to keep helping people. I enjoy being in a field where I can make people feel safe about being honest with me, because I know I can sit with the truth, even when it is uncomfortable.

My Training and Background

BA in Dietetics, Benedictine University, 1999
MA in Social Work, Loyola University Chicago, 2002
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Let's Get Started

I'm currently accepting new clients and have Saturday appointments available. You can see my schedule and request a time online.

Reach out.

Use our contact form or book a free 15-minute consultation. On the call you can share what is going on and we can explore how I can help.
Have your first session.

We will talk through what brought you in and start mapping out what you want to be different.
Begin the work.

We'll meet in person at the North Riverside office or virtually anywhere in Illinois, in English or Spanish, and build from there.

For insurance, Shift Counseling, PC is in network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Aetna, Cigna, First Health, MyBlue Plus, and Lyra EAP. We'll help you understand your coverage. FSA, HSA, and HRA cards are also accepted.

View Amy’s Schedule and Request an Appointment

FAQs

I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 20years of experience. I earned my BA in Dietetics, from Benedictine University, and my MA in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago. Before working at Shift Counseling, PC in North Riverside, I worked on inpatient mental health units, in hospice care, and in Pediatric Oncology units. I also have previous private practice experience providing counseling to people with depression, anxiety, and other life challenges. I see adults and teens, and I offer sessions in both online and in person.
I am able to see clients during the daytime and some evenings Monday-Friday. You're also welcome to reach out directly and we'll let you know what's available.
It's a short, no-cost conversation where we talk about what's bringing you in and what you're hoping to get out of therapy. You can ask me anything about how I work and decide for yourself whether it feels right. There's no obligation to book after.
I tend to connect well with people who are feeling lost, confused, or overwhelmed. We’ll start by helping you get things off your chest. Once you are feeling less burdened, we’ll start figuring out what you want to do about the things that are stressing you out. Some things you can’t change, but I can help you find your power and choices.
Yes. I really enjoy working with teens as well as young adults. A lot of the same things come up: anxiety, depression, major life changes, social concerns, and the pressure of people pleasing. If you're a parent wondering whether your teenager might benefit from talking to someone, feel free to reach out and we can figure out if it's a good fit.
Yes. I have life experiences and previous work experiences working with people who are suffering from chronic illness and severe illness. I understand the frustration of trying to live your life when you are not feeling your best.
Yes, I work with people from all backgrounds, but I understand and am welcoming to members of the LGBTQ+ community.
At Shift Counseling, PC in North Riverside, we're in network with BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, Aetna, Cigna, First Health, MyBlue Plus, and we accept FSA, HSA, and HRA cards. We'll verify your benefits and estimate your out-of-pocket cost before your first session. For current self-pay rates, see our Fees page.
Yes. I see clients in person at our North Riverside office and virtually throughout Illinois, including Broadview, Westchester, Brookfield, La Grange Park, Berwyn, Forest Park, and Chicago. Many clients mix in-person and virtual depending on their week.
We see clients by appointment only. Please provide at least 24 hours notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. Missed sessions without 24-hour notice are subject to a $50 fee.

Ready to take the first step?

When you're ready, I'd be honored to hold space for what you're carrying. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation, in-person in North Riverside or virtually anywhere in Illinois.

Book an appointment with Amy