Candace Wheeler, LPC, CDBT, NCC

Candace founded Restoration Ministries in 2003, but has been involved in social justice issues in the United States since 1988. She is a Board Certified National Counselor (NCC), and holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Spirituality and Trauma from the School of Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Care at Loyola University, Baltimore, Maryland. Her impact on the African-American community in the DC Metro Area, and her academic excellence resulted in her winning the Azusa Street full scholarship at Regent during her final year.

Candace specializes in treating complex trauma in the tri-phasic model- Phase I: Safety & Stabilization, Phase 2: Processing of trauma memories, and Phase 3: Post-traumatic growth. She is certified in dialectical behavior therapy (CDBT) and combines it with various expressive therapies that include the visual arts, music, movement, drama, and writing. Many clients are not able to retain their positive coping skills when they are only taught them verbally. The creative expressions create a metaphor therefore, making them more concrete and lasting. She is also trained in EMDR level 2.

​Candace has worked in the arenas of anti-pornography, right to life, and ministering to homeless pregnant teens. She has served pastorally in Amsterdam’s red light district, in the slums of India, and has worked with anti-trafficking leaders in Vietnam and Haiti.