Hi, I’m Charla!
(pronounced SHAR-luh & use she/her pronouns)
I’m passionate about building community through individual and collective healing.
Why I Do This Work
There was a time when I believed that if I worked hard enough, stayed agreeable enough, achieved enough - I might finally feel worthy.
If I collected the degrees, earned the praise, made others proud… maybe then I’d belong. Maybe then I’d matter.
But I’ve come to understand, as a Black, Queer woman, that believing in my inherent worth is not a luxury - it is an act of resistance.
Reclaiming my voice, my softness, my strength - these are the ways I return to myself and say: I was always enough.
That’s why I do this work. Because I know what it’s like to perform your way through pain, to carry more than your share, to wonder if taking up space makes you selfish.
And I know the freedom on the other side - when you stop shrinking and start coming home to who you really are - as loud, weird, and corny as she might be.
My Approach to Therapy
I believe healing happens when we allow ourselves to show up fully, even if that version of self feels messy, uncertain, or tender.
In our work together, you don’t need to have it all figured out. I simply ask that you be willing to be honest - with yourself and with me.
I’ll hold space for your story with care and consideration, but I’ll also lovingly challenge you to stay true to your values. I’m not afraid to call you out and name when you may be the problem 🙃.
I use tools like EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Motivational Interviewing to help my clients connect the dots, release what’s no longer serving them, and move toward the life they desire.
My approach is social justice minded, solution focused, and rooted in the belief that healing is not just about feeling better. It’s about reclaiming your wholeness and taking responsibility for how you show up in the world. That includes learning to care for yourself with consistency, setting boundaries with integrity, and doing the work to repair when you’ve caused harm.
A Bit More About Me
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 15 years of experience in the mental health field. I’ve worked in schools, community mental health, private practice, and academic settings, always with a focus on care that’s inclusive, trauma informed, and socially conscious.
I offer in office therapy in Indianapolis, as well as virtual sessions across Indiana and Tennessee. I also provide supervision, training, and community education.
Outside of therapy , I’m a wife, a mom of two, and a nap enthusiast who’s slightly obsessed with TikTok, reality TV & good books.
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Ball State University
Muncie, IN
Bachelor of Science in Family Studies & Child DevelopmentUniversity of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN
Masters of Science in Social Work -
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Center for Creative MindfulnessAcceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Indiana University School of Social Work -
Click here for a full copy of my CV
