Aftan Archer-Cox, MSW, LCSW

Aftan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for helping those suffering the effects of trauma. She has worked extensively with a variety of severe mental illnesses, trauma, suicidality, personality disorders, depressive disorders, grief and anxiety. She received a certification as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and continues to study the effects of trauma on the human system. Aftan practices from a strengths-based perspective and is trained in Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy. She utilizes a collaborative approach for treatment planning and therapeutic work. 

 

Aftan has worked in the area of Public Defense for six years. She works with individuals facing life sentences for a variety of level 1 felonies. She has provided mitigation on Death Penalty and Life Without Parole enhanced cases. As a mitigation specialist, Aftan works to gain an understanding of a person’s life and offers a theory for mitigation and mitigating factors for consideration by the Court. This investigation involves gathering and reviewing records, interviewing mitigation witnesses, identifying experts and working closely with a legal team to prepare sentencing plans. She believes every person has a story and is honored to be able to tell her clients stories. 

 

Aftan received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from IUPUI in 2012. She received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from IUPUI in 2018. She completed practicum experiences at Larue Carter State Hospital and Marion County Public Defender Agency. She served as a group facilitator at both Larue Carter State Hospital and Brooke’s Place. She completed ASIST suicide intervention training and served on a suicide hotline in Marion County. In addition to the Public Defender Agency, Aftan also works with private criminal defense attorneys in the area of mitigation and as a mental health therapist focusing on treatment of trauma in adults. 

 

She has lived in Indianapolis for over 15 years. She is the mother to a beautiful teenage daughter and two large-breed dogs. Aftan is an animal lover and a lifetime student. She looks forward to advocating and supporting people through their journey. She is passionate about her work and her clients and finds value in every person’s story. She believes the decision to seek therapy is brave and can ultimately make the world a better place. 

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Note: Aftan is currently not taking new clients.