Hi, I’m Charla

(pronounced SHAR-luh & I use she/her pronouns)

A smiling woman with curly hair, wearing a navy blue floral dress, sitting on a porch with a brick wall on one side and a white door behind her.

Through my private practice (Connected in Community), I provide individual therapy to clients who are navigating trauma, impostor syndrome, anxiety, and looking to rebuild their confidence after abusive relationships. I engage EMDR and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy to guide this work, which I anchor in inclusive, anti-oppressive values.

As a social work educator, I develop and facilitate continuing education courses, with Doin' the Work, that equip clinicians who desire to incorporate anti-oppressive values into their professional practice. I’ve also published research on the ways systemic inequities shape mental health outcomes, and I regularly present on topics like collective healing, racial justice, and trauma-informed care.

In addition to my clinical and teaching work, I invest in my local community by mentoring and supporting emerging Black and Brown therapists through Our Therapy Lab, a student-run clinic committed to increasing access to culturally inclusive care across Indianapolis.

If you’re interested in collaborating, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always open to conversations that inspire growth, challenge norms, and cultivate more just, compassionate communities.

Let’s Connect!