Candace Coston, LCSW

Candace Coston is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who draws on formal training in English and social work to support clients through life challenges. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Campbell University and completed graduate studies in social work at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. Her background includes work across a wide range of settings and populations, from young children whose behaviors affected functioning at home and school to adolescents navigating school performance and the juvenile justice system. She has provided care for adults with dual diagnoses of mental health and developmental disabilities and currently offers individual and couples therapy for members of the military.

Candace focuses on identifying what brings clients joy, who matters to them, and the goals they hold. She explores values and self-perception to clarify the destinations clients want to reach - whether those destinations are emotional, mental, physical, or interpersonal - and then partners with clients on practical steps toward those aims. Her clinical toolkit includes narrative therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), solution-focused strategies, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and motivational interviewing. She has experience addressing anxiety, trauma, depression, PTSD, low self-esteem and self-image, self-criticism, anger-related impulsivity, adjustment difficulties, and grief and loss.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Candace offers online therapy informed by evidence-based approaches that translate well to remote sessions. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify personal values and build a meaningful life while learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings - it is useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and to improve coping skills. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for clients managing intense emotions or relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Candace works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques as therapy progresses to ensure a good fit.

Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for people balancing work, family, or military schedules. These options make it easier to access consistent care from licensed professionals without the need to travel, and they allow clients to choose the communication style that feels most comfortable for them.