Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Candice Cooper-Lovett.
Dr. Candice, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Since I was a child I always knew that I wanted to be successful in my own right as success is relative to the person. Coming from humble beginnings in inner city Buffalo, NY I was determined to live a better life and to make my family proud. I was a studious kid and I loved to read. I wanted to become a pediatrician and was a biochemistry major in high school. As I continued along my track as a high school student, I remember a psychologist coming to speak to one of my classes and I found myself being very passionate about what he was speaking of regarding mental health, and how the brain works. After that talk I made the decision that I wanted to work in the field of psychology and become a psychology major in college. From that point in college I gained an interest in specific types of psychology where I learned about sex therapy as well as marriage and family therapy.
I remember taking a neuroscience class that focused on sexuality and I was very intrigued and wanted to understand the different processes that were involved with sex, sexuality, and sexual development. I also had a big interest in relationships and families as it related to trauma (e.g. domestic violence, sexual abuse/assault) and sex therapy. I read a book called addicted by Zane and it opened me up to really understanding how to become a sex therapist. I reached out to AASECT which is the governing body of sex therapists, counselors, and educators and they responded and shared that that going the marriage and family therapy track was the best way to become certified. From there I knew my track was marriage and family therapy and sex therapy. I specialized in marriage and family therapy for both my Masters (Syracuse University) and my PhD (Drexel University) while gaining courses and trainings in sex therapy as well.
After completion of my studies I moved from Buffalo, NY which is my hometown down to Atlanta in 2014 after becoming fully licensed as a marriage and family therapist. In 2015 I started my therapy practice A New Creation Psychotherapy Services in the south metro Atlanta area. In 2017 I got married and in 2020 had my son. At the time it was during covid and I had an influx of clients. As a new mom it was difficult to maintain my clientele and referrals while at the same time being mom. In 2020 I made the decision to grow into a group practice which included clinicians I had supervised over the years and were ready to obtain their licensure.
Additionally, in 2021 I started my journey to becoming a spiritual healer as I was told in different spaces I was not operating in my full capacity as a healer. I am now a shamanic tantric practitioner, and heartwork practitioner and have began to practice since 2021 and started The Tantric MFT which a holistic and spiritual practice that utilizes healing energy work (sometimes alongside my healing partner Shontwel Wells), and herbal medicine. I also have my other business Dr. CoopLove which focuses on supervision, mentorship, speaking and consultation services for therapists and other professionals.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wished I could say it has been a smooth road and at the same time I look at all of those struggles as things that have happened for me instead of to me. As I shared earlier I came from humble beginnings growing up in the inner city and lacked financial resources. There was also experiences of witnessing drugs and community violence. As a kid I didn’t realize how this experience was normalized for me because was all I knew. Being a first generation college student was not an easy thing to do but I had the support of my family, friends, and my own intrinsic motivation to help me along the way.
A lot of other struggles came as a result of being a business owner. That in itself is a task as it is not easy to be an entrepreneur especially when its full time. When I took the leap I was excited but also nervous and afraid because of the unknown, however to date it has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life. I had to learn some valuable lessons about business, money management, and the importance of having a good team. I also had some struggles with transitioning and re-branding my private practice to promote it as a holistic practice that focuses not only on the mind and body, but also the spirit. There are not many therapists that integrate all of the above. When I mention spiritual I think of the ocean vs the fish bowl. Spirituality allows us to make meaning of things that occur in our lives and also shape how we deal with things from a mental and emotional perspective. A lot of things that I have done in my work have been experiences that I had to research and learn on my own. So from an early age I’ve faced many obstacles that could have kept me from getting to this point in my life however I’ve had the support and love of those I love and care for as well as the natural ambition inside of me to strive to be the best at what I do and to make a difference in the world for the better.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In this I will focus on my therapy and tantra business as it serves the community. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist, AASECT certified sex therapist, and AAMFT approved supervisor. On the spiritual side I am a shamanic tantra practitioner, heartwork practitioner, and herbalist. I have been in business for almost 10 years. A New Creation got started in 2015 and I was a solo practice, in 2020 I officially transitioned into a group practice where I now have 2 associates, 3 interns, and one associate licensed, one fully licensed clinician. At A New Creation we offer individual, couple, family, and sex therapy services we also do events, and groups throughout the year based on therapist availability.
I specialize in the field of trauma and recovery as well as sexuality and sexual issues, particularly women’s sexuality and pleasure. I also have a focus on post-traumatic growth which is a positive psychological change experienced as a result of the struggle with challenging life circumstances. I also focus on transpersonal psychology which integrates spiritual tools and traditions along with conventional therapy. The idea is that it’s not just the mind and body that need healing and looking after, but also the spirit itself. It is concerned with the study of humanity’s highest potential, and with the recognition, understanding, and realization of intuitive, spiritual, and transcendent states of consciousness. I feel that these things set me apart from others.
I was intentional in starting a separate business from A New Creation in the spiritual space and thats how The Tantric MFT began. At The Tantric MFT the focus is on holistic care, energy healing, and other spiritual practices. I kept them separate to differentiate when I am working as a marriage and family therapist and sex therapist versus when I’m practicing as a energy healer. I have found a great way to integrate energy healing work as a modality in addition to mental and emotional wellness in my work with clients who choose to do both.
As a brand, I am most proud of providing space to those who are of the African diaspora and having a safe space for those who are looking for representation from a spiritual, and cultural perspective. I also have the belief that sexuality is spirituality which is a unique view from most in my field. That the understanding of our sensual and sexual selves allows us for an experience that is of bliss, happiness, and peace that only one an achieve within themselves. As a therapist, supervisor and spiritual healer I pride myself in co-creating experiences that can alter a persons life for the better for the rest of their lives. As one of my associates coined it at A New Creation in conjunction with the services at The Tantric MFT we’re here to offer third order change, that is the change that lasts beyond a lifetime, to focus on the self that came the day you were born and the self that will go the day you transition. By staying in that space within self you can truly create a life of happiness, love, peace, and pleasure. That is what I stand on and proud of.
What’s next?
My plans for the future is to continue to grow my practice with more associates and create supervisors to supervise the incoming associates and interns. That it will become a training facility that provides CE trainings etc to not only the staff of ANC but also other clinicians. I’m also looking to integrate the spiritual practice more into the therapy practice by creating another group of spiritual healers on The Tantric MFT side who are trained to do this work as well. Additionally, I plan to start and grow another business alongside my healing partner Shontwel which is another spiritual business that involves both of our services from teaching upcoming practitioners about different elements of energy work and spirituality, energy healing sessions, herbalism, and home blessings/cleansing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anewcreationpsychotherapy.com, www.drcooplove.com, www.thetantricmft.com
- Instagram: anewcreationpsy, thetantricmft
- Facebook: anewcreationpsy, thetantricmft
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-candice-cooper-lovett-lmft-s-cst-tantric-shaman-04482530/
Image Credits
Professional Photos: Marc Norsworthy & Co. Professional Makeup: Moulate 6
