Aartje Caldwell, LCSW

Aartje Caldwell is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 35 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, and depression. She focuses on practical ways to cope with life changes and on issues many older adults face. Aartje works with people who are juggling caregiving, chronic illness, loss, or questions about life purpose.

Her sessions are direct and compassionate. She listens closely, helps people name the problem, and then tries out straightforward strategies that fit each person’s day-to-day life. She uses approaches that encourage action and clear thinking to reduce worry and improve mood.

Over a long career in Indiana, Aartje has supported clients through divorce, blended family stress, cancer and hospice care, and the strains that come with aging. That experience informs how she helps people make realistic plans and cope with difficult emotions. Her focus includes abandonment issues, isolation and loneliness, and caregiver stress.

She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy to shape practical steps forward. The work tends to be collaborative and goal-oriented, with attention to both feelings and real-life problems. Aartje aims to help people regain a sense of control and purpose as they move through transitions.

People interested in working with her should be ready to talk about current struggles and try simple behavioral changes. Her approach is steady, experienced, and aimed at improving daily functioning and emotional well-being.

How her approaches fit online therapy

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing small behavior changes to shift mood and anxiety. It is useful for people with depression, worry, and stress who want clear strategies to try between sessions.

Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify their own reasons for change and build motivation step by step. It can be helpful for decisions about caregiving, health behaviors, or making life changes.

Solution-Focused Therapy centers on current strengths and practical goals, often asking what would be different when things improve and then planning small, achievable steps toward that outcome. It suits people who want focused, outcome-oriented work.

Finding the right mix of methods is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to match approaches to a person’s needs, goals, and preferences. Expect joint decisions about what to try and regular check-ins about whether it is helping.

Confirm current session options before booking, since formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, or letting someone join from a different location. Licensed professionals can tailor pacing and homework to match your daily routine so therapy fits practical demands without promising a particular service.