About Vivir
Vivir Psychiatry & Wellness was founded to provide thoughtful, evidence-based psychiatric care in a calm, supportive environment. We serve children, adolescents, and adults offering personalized care that respects each individual’s goals, values, and stage of life.
At Vivir, care begins with listening. We integrate traditional psychiatric treatment with integrative and functional mental health principles, creating individualized plans that may include medication management, education, and whole-person strategies addressing sleep, stress, lifestyle and mind-body connection.
Our approach is collaborative, transparent, and grounded in professional standards- designed to support lasting wellness, not just symptom relief.
Telehealth services are available across Texas, with in-person care offered as scheduled.
Vivir is a cash-pay practice committed to clarity, accessibility, and respect.
Insurance participation coming soon.
Provider
Erika Cardenas, MBA, MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC
Founder & CEO
Board-Certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)
Erika Cardenas is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Family Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience across emergency medicine, urgent care, pain management, and pediatric settings. Her clinical background allows her to provide a calm, structured, and compassionate psychiatric care grounded in evidence and tailored to real life.
As the Founder and CEO of Vivir Psychiatry & Wellness, Erika created a practice designed to meet people where they are. Vivir was built on the belief that mental health care should be accessible, culturally responsive, and rooted in community. Her approach blends clinical precision with warmth, ensuring patients feel both supported and understood.
Born and raised in Laredo, Texas, Erika is a deeply committed to serving the community that shaped her. She understands the cultural nuances, values, strengths of South Texas families and provides care that honors those foundations while embracing growth and healing.
Outside of clinical work, Erika enjoys spending time with her husband and five children, caring after her parents and mother-in-law, weight lifting, hiking, running and bird-watching. She attends live music concerts and reads biographies, current events, and medical literature. She is also drawn to thoughtful design- from architecture and clinical spaces to the craftsmanship and legacy of global fashion houses. Her life is grounded in family, discipline, and continuous learning- the same principles that guide her practice.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC)
Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-BC)
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Education & Credentials
Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner, 1+ year
Pain management, including complex and injury-related pain care, 2+ year
Urgent Care Family Nurse Practitioner, 5+ years
Emergency Department Registered Nurse, 8 years
Medical-Surgical Nursing, 3 years
High-acuity pediatric private duty nursing, 7 years
Clinical Experience
Erika maintains active clinical practice in acute and outpatient medical settings in addition to her work at Vivir Psychiatry & Wellness. This ongoing, hands-on experience ensures she remains current with real-world patient care, evolving clinical standards, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Active practice strengthens clinical judgment, risk awareness, and patient safety—particularly in complex cases involving medical comorbidities, chronic pain, trauma exposure, and medication management.
Active Clinical Experience
Expanding the Vision
Treating mind and body.
At Vivir Psychiatry & Wellness, care is centered on the whole person. Mental health, physical well-being, and confidence are deeply connected, and meaningful care often touches more than one aspect of a patient’s life.
As Vivir continues to grow, founder Erika Cardenas, APRN expanded this vision of whole-person wellness by creating BRILLAS Aesthetics & Wellness, a complementary service focused on medical aesthetics, weight management, and wellness treatments. While Vivir remains dedicated to compassionate psychiatric care, BRILLAS was created to support confidence, wellness, and personal well-being.
Together, these services reflect a shared philosophy: helping individuals feel supported, healthy, and empowered in every stage of life.
Helping people live fully- mind and body.
Learn more at brillasaesthetics.com
For patients under 18, a parent or legal guardian provides consent and participates in care as appropriate. Privacy and communication guidelines are reviewed during intake and follow applicable laws and professional standards.
Care for Minors
Care is provided in accordance with Texas regulations, scope-of-practice requirements, and collaborative practice standards.