Candida Phelps

If you are navigating the overwhelming weight of deep loss, trauma, or the unique daily challenges of neurodivergence, you do not have to carry that burden alone. My name is Candida (Candi) Phelps LPCC, and I provide a compassionate, trauma-informed space where you can safely process life's heaviest chapters without fear of judgment. My clinical foundation is built on diverse, hands-on experience in mental health, crisis support, and specialized learning environments. I spent three years delivering intensive therapeutic care within a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) facility for substance use disorders. This background gives me a deep understanding of addiction medicine, recovery dynamics, and the complexities of behavior change. In addition to my clinical counseling background, I hold a degree in Special Education and actively work as a special education teacher and certified school counselor. This dual expertise in education and mental health allows me to effectively support neurodivergent individuals, students, and families navigating academic stressors, developmental milestones, and systemic barriers. Whether you are healing from a profound loss, sustaining your recovery journey, or trying to find balance as a neurodivergent individual, I am here to help you build practical tools and reclaim your peace.

My therapeutic style is highly collaborative, direct, and completely tailored to your unique history and goals. Because I hold a specialized certification in traumatic grief counseling, I do not look at your pain through a generic clinical lens. I utilize a trauma-informed framework that honors your lived experiences while gently challenging the patterns that keep you feeling stuck. I integrate evidence-based interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for emotional regulation, and structured grief processing models. Drawing heavily from my dual background in mental health and special education, I make therapy accessible and practical. This means our sessions will focus heavily on real-world application, neurodivergent-affirming strategies, and recognizing your innate resilience as we work through trauma and life transitions.

In our first few sessions, we will focus on establishing safety, identifying your immediate stressors, and mapping out what healing looks like for you. As our work progresses, you can expect to leave sessions with a clearer understanding of your behavioral patterns and a concrete set of coping mechanisms to manage anxiety, grief triggers, or cravings.Ultimately, my goal is to help you build sustainable, long-term autonomy. You will walk away with robust tools to navigate complex grief, practical boundaries to manage life and school-based stressors, and a renewed sense of confidence in your ability to handle difficult emotions.