“EMOTIONAL PAIN IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE HIDDEN AWAY AND NEVER SPOKEN ABOUT. THERE IS TRUTH IN YOUR PAIN, THERE IS GROWTH IN YOUR PAIN, BUT ONLY IF IT’S FIRST BROUGHT OUT INTO THE OPEN”
– Steven Aitchison
AS A THERAPIST, I WONT:
Try to fix you.
Give you advise.
Tell you what to do.
Pretend I know more about you than you do.
Have all the answers.
Make the hard stuff go away.
AS A THERAPIST, I WILL:
Remind you that you aren’t broken.
Give you room to access your own wisdom.
Support you on figuring out what to do.
Recognize that you are the expert on your own life.
Remember that only you know what is best for you.
Honor that I don’t know it all.
Collaborate with you on how to make the hard stuff easier to sit with.
“It is an act of bravery to feel your feelings.” -Gayle Forman
Hello and welcome! My name is Candice Sosa and I am Licenced Professional Clinical Counselor. I currently work at a private practice in Calabasas, CA.
I graduated cum laude from California State University, Long Beach with a B.S. in Psychology. I graduated magna cum laude with my M.S. in Psychology at California State University, Northridge, where I completed my professional thesis project titled: “Building connection in a broken system: how addressing shame and disconnection increases student achievement and belonging”
It was a long road of self exploration and growth for me to identify my passion. I have always been drawn to a career that would make a difference in the world and in people’s lives. This interest led me to study the field of Psychology with an emphasis on School Counseling and eventually to focus on Clinical Counseling for individual therapy for children and adults, couples and family therapy.
I am committed to the well being and personal growth of all of my clients and I go above and beyond to meet each person or family’s unique needs.
Despite the challenges in your daily life, therapy gives us the incredible opportunity to speak freely without judgement and to discuss those challenges in your life.
I grew up in the area and have lived here most of my life. It is an honor to be providing services here and working to make our community a stronger, safer, more comfortable place to live and raise our families.
I have experience working with:
Children, adolescents and teens
Young Adults
Adults
Families
Anxiety and Depression
Co-parenting and parallel parenting
Childhood trauma
Grief and Loss
Codependence
Children and adults of Alcoholic parents
Personal growth and fulfillment
What is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC):
Pathways to licensure for Licensed Professional Clinical
Counselors (LPCCs) and Licensed Marriage and Family
Therapists (LMFTs) are very similar.
In order to qualify for licensure for either career in California, you must have earned a Master’s degree from a program that integrates the principles of mental health recovery-oriented practice and features training in multicultural values, human growth and development, psychopharmacology and substance abuse counseling.
LPCCs have a wider scope of practice and operate more generally in the field of mental health. They are able to see a variety of clients including individuals of all ages, families, and couples. When treating clients, they approach problems from an individual developmental standpoint, examining a patient’s psychological and social development. LPCCs have the ability to examine and target specific struggles but also focusing on a client’s overall ecological systems, which, in addition to the microsystem, takes into account aspects such as cultural context, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, just to name a few.
My Approach
My approach is best described as straightforward, gently truthful, honest and empathetic. I work with you and/or your family without judgement allowing for all feelings and frustrations. I believe connection and empathy are the key to growth and deeply value authenticity. My role in our relationship is to assist you in achieving your goals and aid you in reaching your potential. I am here to provide a support and safe space, to provide education and resources and unconditional acceptance of who you are, where you are in your journey, and where you would like to go.
My hope for you is that you take what we learn and experience during our session and apply it to your life, this can be achieved in many different ways which we will explore in our time together. In applying this knowledge to your daily life you may experience increased success in achieving your goals because you are the creator of change. As you gain mastery over your life, you may find yourself booking sessions further apart, you may take a break and come back, or you may stop attending all together. Whatever you choose, my door will remain open.
My theoretical stance with my consumers is a strengths based and a Person-Centered modality while integrating interventions from several different theories such as post-modern, humanistic models, Gestalt and mindfulness frameworks to provide an integrative approach that best suits each consumers individual needs and in order to ensure growth and progress towards your goals.
Telehealth Therapy:
I understand the logistics of coming to an office can be difficult, and not everyone does their best work in an office setting. Therefore, I offer telehealth services through text messages, phone calls and video conferences. Check out my “insurance & fees” page to understand my cash fee structure.
Trainings and Memberships:
Trainings:
Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals, PESI Inc.
Advanced Trauma Treatment for Children and Adolescents: A Certify Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional Training Course, PESI Inc.
Attachment in Adults: How infant attachment Security Affects Adult Relationships, PESI Inc.
Addiction, Trauma & Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): De Neuroscience behind Developmental/Attachment Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences, PESI Inc.
How to Work with Shame, NICABM.
Memberships:
CAMFT
CALPCC