Story & Lesson Highlights with Dr. Candice Oshunfunke of South Metro Atlanta

Dr. Candice Oshunfunke shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Dr. Candice, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, one of the greatest sources of joy in my life has been spending quality time with my son. Being present with him invites me to slow down, laugh more, and experience life through curiosity and play. Whether we’re having fun together or sharing quiet moments, I find myself reconnecting with parts of my own childhood and remembering the beauty of simplicity. Our walks together when the weather allows have become especially meaningful, offering time to connect, talk, and simply be with one another.

Beyond motherhood, my sisters and my sister friends have been deeply nourishing for me. These are the people who truly know me, see me, and hold me in my fullness. Being in their presence reminds me that I don’t have to carry my roles or responsibilities I can just show up as myself. Their love, laughter, honesty, and support ground me, restore me, and keep me rooted in connection, reminding me of the power of sisterhood and chosen family in sustaining joy and wholeness.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Candice Cooper-Lovett, the founder of The Tantric MFT, a heart-based, spiritually grounded brand devoted to embodied living, sacred intimacy, and God-conscious presence. At the core of my work is the belief that healing and transformation happen when we return to the heart and allow the body, spirit, and consciousness to move together in harmony. The Tantric MFT is not about performance or technique it’s about presence. Through teaching, mentorship, and sacred space-holding, I guide people into deeper relationship with themselves, their desires, their relationships, and the divine inside of them. My work blends ancient wisdom, tantric principles, and intuitive heart-based practices to support remembrance of one’s wholeness and connection to God consciousness.

What makes this work unique is its emphasis on devotion, embodiment, and lived experience. Rather than fixing or forcing change, The Tantric MFT invites people to slow down, soften into the heart, and live from a place of truth, reverence, and sacred awareness. Much of what I’m currently working on involves expanding this work through community, education, and mentorship creating spaces where people can explore intimacy, spirituality, and self-connection in ways that feel grounded, nourishing, and deeply aligned.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My mentor, Dr. Marlene Watson, saw me clearly before I could fully see myself. Back in 2008, from the moment I interviewed at Drexel University, she recognized something in me and consistently reflected it back with unwavering belief. She often shared that while she could see me clearly, it would remain in vain if I could not learn to see myself. She advocated for me wholeheartedly and believed deeply in my capabilities as a clinician, scholar, and spiritualist. Her faith in me became a mirror and an anchor, reminding me that being seen by another is powerful but learning to claim and embody that vision for yourself is what truly brings it to life.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I fully stepped into my work as a therapist and, even more so, as a spiritualist. Entering this field required me to face parts of myself that I once tried to suppress or make sense of in isolation. Things that used to scare me like seeing and hearing spirits or having deep intuitive and energetic awareness were once sources of confusion and fear. For a long time, I didn’t have language, models, or support that normalized those experiences. Over time, instead of running from them, I chose to understand them, ground them, and integrate them. That process transformed my pain into discernment and my fear into wisdom. What once felt overwhelming became a source of clarity and compassion. Now, I’m able to guide others who may be navigating similar challenges helping them feel less alone, less broken, and more empowered to trust themselves. Using my pain as power hasn’t meant bypassing it; it’s meant meeting it honestly and allowing it to become a bridge between my own healing and the service I offer others.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that authenticity and integrity truly matter to me, along with creating relationships that are free from competition or comparison. I value closeness and depth, and I’m most at home in spaces where people can show up without pretense where there’s room for honesty, accountability, and growth without shame or drama. For me, connection feels most nourishing when it’s expressive, respectful, and rooted in love, mutual care, and personal responsibility. They would also say that I deeply value quality time, especially with family. I believe in slowing down to create shared experiences taking family trips, being present with one another, and building memories that can’t be bought or replaced. Fun, laughter, vulnerability, and accountability all matter to me because they allow relationships to stay both loving and real. Those moments where hearts are open, growth is supported, and memories are created are what I consider true wealth.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I lived with integrity and from the heart, and that I did my best to align my life with what I believed and taught. I hope they remember that I created spaces where people felt truly seen not judged or managed, but witnessed the way God sees them: whole, worthy, and deeply loved. More than anything, I hope they felt safe in my presence to be honest, vulnerable, and real, knowing they didn’t have to hide parts of themselves to belong. I also hope the story includes my humanity that I didn’t just teach these values, but embodied them, even when it was messy. That I was willing to learn from my own poor decisions and mistakes, and let those moments deepen my compassion, wisdom, and humility. If people say that I lived what I spoke, loved what I taught, and allowed my own life to be part of the lesson, then I will know I lived with truth, integrity, and heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thetantricmft.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetantricmft
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/the-tantric-mft-llc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetantricmft