Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace David.
Hi Candace, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello! I am Candace David. I am Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Therapist with a practice in Allen, TX.
My desire to help care for others started when I was a teenager, and I was able to foster it through my involvement in serving opportunities.
In college, I solidified my future goals and found counseling as an avenue for fostering growth in others, specifically females. Through research in school, I learned eating disorders were among common diagnoses for females that could be challenging to treat. I am always up for a challenge and began to set my sights on how to care for this specific population.
During my master’s I got a job working at what at the time was the only eating disorder program in Houston. Can you believe it?!? One program for the entire city that had twice as many people in it as all of DFW. I was mentored by colleagues who knew more and had been working far longer than me. I am incredibly grateful for my time there and everything I learned watching those more experienced than myself.
My passion for serving those who struggle with food and/or body image exploded, and I’ve never looked back since!
When I moved back to Dallas, I continued learning more and sharpening my therapeutic skills. I worked at higher levels of care programs, sought supervision from specialists, and completed all requirements to become a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist.
Since beginning my private practice, I had the desire to bring practical, supportive, and convenient outpatient offerings to the eating disorder community. Out of this desire, bridged was born.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Building a business from the ground up does not come without challenges.
In graduate school, they don’t teach you how to be a businesswoman or how to market your services. One of the hardest things has been trying to figure out how to get the word out about bridged to those in the community.
Additionally, there is always an HR side of things when operating a business that employs others. My desire is to find people who are equally passionate about this population. I am always searching for phenomenal people!!
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?
I am a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist Supervisor. I have dedicated my career to working with individuals that struggle in their relationship with food and/or their body. I provide individual counseling, supervision, and consultation through my private practice in Allen, Candace David Counseling, PLLC, and through, bridged, PLLC, I am able to provide much more care!
bridged, PLLC was officially started on the TWOsday this year-Tuesday, February 22, 2022!!! bridged is one of a kind! We specialize in working with people who want to improve their relationship with food and/or their body. We offer practical, convenient, and supportive care. Anyone who is interested in working on their relationship with food or their body can give us a call or send us an email to get started! Referrals or an existing treatment team is not needed.
We help individuals improve their relationship with food. bridged offers group meal support in two forms: Let’s CHAT! a cooking and meal support group with a therapist and dietitian, and one on one meal support with a recovery coach.
We help clients improve their relationship with their bodies through our yoga group, Let’s MOVE!, led by our Registered Yoga Teacher. Much different than walking into a yoga studio, clients are greeted by our yoga teacher and led to an intimate room without mirrors and in groups never larger than five. In this group, they will experience an opportunity to care for their bodies and move without judgment.
We further our reach to help individuals experience practical support through grocery and clothes shopping support scheduled at a time of their choosing with a recovery coach.
Finally, we partner with families and loved ones by offering educational workshops featuring information and hands-on applications for improving communication and managing meal times.
The bridged team is composed of individuals who are equally passionate about serving this community. Some of us have our own recovery journeys and others of us have a strong connection and calling to this work.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Mentors have been the lifeblood of my career! I have always been a person who looks for people who are further down the road and doing what I want to do. Once I find them, I connect with them and work on fostering a professional relationship with them. I am clear in communicating my goals with them and ask if they would be willing to help me as I continue my career path.
Networking in the form of big groups at conferences feels impersonal to me. My preferred form of networking takes the form of breakfast and lunch outings where I have an opportunity to get to know them as a person for more than just their work. It is easy to get caught up in our to-do lists and it is important to me that connecting with people does not feel like an item on a checklist.
Pricing:
- $125 per group for Let’s CHAT! the cooking and meal support group
- $80 per group for Let’s MOVE! the yoga movement group
- $35 for one-to-one meal support, grocery shopping, and clothes shopping outings
- $170 for individual counseling at Candace David Counseling
- $150 for therapist supervision and consultation sessions
Contact Info:
- Website: www.candacedavidcounseling.com, www.bridgedcollaborative.com
- Instagram: @candacedavid.lpc.lcdc.ceds, @bridgedcollaborative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candacedavidcounselingllc, https://www.facebook.com/bridgedcollaborative
