Aartje Caldwell, LCSW

Aartje Caldwell is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 35 years of experience helping people navigate complex emotional and life changes. Based in Indiana, she concentrates on depression, anxiety, grief, self-esteem, and the unique concerns of older adults and those facing significant transitions. Her practice also addresses social anxiety, workplace stress, caregiver burden, chronic pain and illness, and questions of life purpose.

Aartje brings a compassionate, collaborative approach that emphasizes respect, active listening, and practical coping strategies. She supports clients through relationship transitions, blended family challenges, abandonment concerns, aging and geriatric issues, and end-of-life or hospice-related matters. Her work includes helping people manage guilt, shame, isolation, control issues, and the emotional impact of cancer and chronic conditions.

Grounded in evidence-informed techniques, Aartje helps individuals develop tools to manage symptoms, improve communication, and pursue personal growth. She has a particular commitment to women's mental health and to guiding clients as they rediscover resilience and purpose. Whether addressing caregiver stress, divorce and separation, or a search for renewed meaning, she offers steady professional guidance and practical strategies tailored to each person’s situation.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Aartje Caldwell uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT is practical and goal-oriented, and it often helps with anxiety, depression, and everyday stress by building concrete skills for managing symptoms and improving mood.

She also incorporates Motivational Interviewing, a collaborative conversational style that strengthens a person’s own motivation to change. This approach is useful for clients struggling with ambivalence about life changes, caregiving decisions, or health-related behaviors, and it supports setting personally meaningful goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Aartje works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which allow for flexible scheduling and access from different locations. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, maintain continuity during transitions, and receive regular support in ways that suit each client’s routine and comfort level.