We were lucky to catch up with Candace Graves recently and have shared our conversation below.

Candace, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I knew as a freshman in high school that I wanted to work in the helping field and I did just that. It wasn’t until years later that my purpose began to take shape within the industry. I begin to see that I was called to counsel, teach, and equip. I am a believer who is called to bridge the gaps in the world walking people into mental wholeness. There was never initially a desire to go back to school for my doctorate. I went because I was led and understood that this was necessary for the future me. Shortly after graduating in May 2024 as Dr. Candace Graves, I knew that this defining moment ignited my next level of purpose. An opportunity to do some program development work and teach in a counseling program presented itself. Now here I am living out God’s dream for my life. The lesson in this is the reminder that God’s vision of your future is always bigger than what you can see. Your role in this is to do the work little by little and be open to His leading. Doing so will ultimately take you on a journey that will literally impact the world. I am not an “influencer” in a social media sense but I am an influencer in the sense of being an effective change agent to those in the world around me.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a licensed therapist who also teaches at the the college level, equipping the next generation of therapist. I got into this industry because of my desire to see people healed in every area of their lives. Many desire healing but lack the tools and the mindset to go after it. That’s where I come in. I use the skills from my profession to educate individuals, churches, and businesses across the region of the importance of mental health. I also use my creative writing skills to share my poetry across the world to empower others. I have collaboratived with other creatives from Ghana, Germany, United States, and the United Kingdom. What sets me apart as a creative is that I have a unique approach in merging creativity into a therapeutic framework to empower others and help them heal. I partner with individuals so that they can reach their fullest potential. I am called to singles who need healing from the brokenness of relationships. I developed a group curriculum to help support women in these endeavors towards wholeness. This is a free therapeutic woman’s group. As someone who walked the path and healed, I know the importance of people seeing the possibility of wholeness and working their lives to pursue it. My life is a testament to the reality that one can be happy healthy and whole as well as living life to the fullest. I am most proud of the fact that I am walking in my own lane unafraid.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

To be in a helping field such as this you have to have a passion for it. Working in mental health is not just a job. It can take so much out of you as the clinician that you have to properly prepare to do the work that is required to help people heal.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I would absolutely choose the same professor again if I had to go back. I more than likely would have went ahead and got my doctorate sooner though. I specialize in cooccurring disorders and this impacts so many people therefore it is clear there is a true need.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://candacegraves.net
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@candacegravesphd?si=tqvwizaApbnWms2e
• Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/strength-feat-zoe-dominique-single/1715614086