Welcome to my practice, CALM Therapy Group. I am a clinical social worker licensed in Indiana and Louisiana. I received my Bachelors degree at Purdue University and my Masters degree from IUPUI. I have worked in the behavioral health field for 25 years treating people with a variety of needs and conditions. I am an empathetic and genuine therapist who believes in the importance of maintaining a positive mindset. We all need someone to listen to us without judgement about our feelings, emotions, and past decisions. Life offers us a variety of challenges and we will work together on moving through them and understanding how our past experiences have affected us. I am a wife, mother of six, and understand the trials and tribulations of working full time and managing a household.
I know therapy can feel scary and overwhelming so in our first session we will focus on building a strong foundation for our therapeutic relationship. We will discuss your needs, goals, and life challenges. We’ll explore your personal history, background information, and present challenges. We will set goals together to ensure you receive the best treatment possible in a safe environment.
My greatest strengths as a clinician include being relatable, authentic, incorporating humor, and a great sense of compassion and understanding for all people. I am very pationate about helping others and I want nothing from you, except to help you.
By seeking out therapy, you have acknowledged and identified that you are ready to seek help. I serve adult individuals who are struggling with anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, parenting struggles, and major life changes and transitions. I have worked extensively with individuals who have suffered from disorders affecting the brain including traumatic brain injuries, strokes, Parkinsons Disease, ADHD, tumors, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.
Other specialties
I identify as
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is a type of mindful psychotherapy that helps you stay focused on the present moment and accept thoughts and feelings about things you cannot change. We will work on moving you forward through difficult emotions so you can put your energy into healing instead of dwelling on the negative. I have found it helpful to those who have injuries of the brain including traumatic brain injuries, dementia, stroke, tumors, Parkinson's, and Alzhemier's which I have worked with over the past three years.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
CBT is a goal oriented and collaborative approach that focuses on the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. We will discuss coping strategies to manage intrusive thoughts and emotions effectively.
Trauma-Focused CBT
TF-CBT is an evidenced based psychotherapy that directly addresses the impact of traumatic events. I will help guide you through the process of acknowledging and facing how the trauma has affected you and your relationships. We will go at your pace and comfort level.
18 ratings with written reviews
February 5, 2026
Mrs Anderson was a very good help, she listened to what I had to say and was very open minded. I feel a lot better after our session!
January 31, 2026
I gave Valarie a lot to deal with in our first session, and she handled it like a champ. I feel like she is a great fit for me.
January 28, 2026
This was an awesome session!!! I already feel like a huge weight has been lifted. I am in the process of looking for grounding strategies and looking forward to my next session.