no, you're not crazy.
yes, it's possible to feel differently.
being a sensitive soul on this planet can be overwhelming.
when you have high-frequency emotions, they can sneak up and take over in destructive ways. intense and ever-changing feelings can overpower you to the point where you feel like you’ve been invaded and the only explanation is that there must be something terribly wrong with you. maybe you’ve tried to just stop feeling, or at least to feel less. maybe you’ve seen other therapists, done some DBT or other group therapy, tried different medications and still nothing is changing.
i’m here to help. i want you to be able to understand how your experiences have shaped your emotional responses to things and empower you to feel confident in your ability to move through life without being constantly hijacked by your feelings.
what even qualifies this b*tch anyways?
i’m candida! (pronouns are she/her/hers) i’m a neurospicy bicultural queer misfit. i’ve been a therapist officially for almost 20 years, and supervising & mentoring other therapists for nearly a decade. i. love. this. work. and i feel incredibly grateful it’s what i get to do.
my formal credentials include a bachelor’s in french, a master’s in counselling and more trauma trainings than time to list them. next up? brainspotting! i’m also well-supported by my own therapist, & clinical supervisor as needed. i have a peer group i meet with monthly and am insatiably curious and thus always learning.
i’m a deeply feeling intuitive human with lived experience being diagnosed as a BPDer and navigating this neurotypical world with a neurodivergent brain. i’m also the kind of person who’s willing to post a headshot with visible cat hair on it, which may or may not tell you something about me.
“it is a terrible thing to do to unusual people, to drive them so deeply into themselves that each reemergence is a volcanic explosion.”
—guntram vesper
does a day in your life look and feel like this? i can help!
my feelings seem out of control. they are intense and come out of nowhere.
i feel like no one understands how much pain my feelings cause.
people are always saying i’m overreacting.
i feel empty and numb.
i get angry really quickly and then feel guilty and ashamed.
i can be suicidal one moment and elated the next.
i become attached to people very quickly.
i feel like i am a burden to others.
am i someone you’ll click with?
this used to be the place I listed my degrees and credentials - those are things I’ve done, and not very indicative of how I work with clients. you’re here because you want to know what to expect when you sit in the room with me. i’m easy to connect with, and good at building relationships quickly. i’m intuitive, and keep a consistent balance between making space for you to explore your feelings, and challenging you to face them on your own.
i love working with people who experience intense emotions and feel like they are too much. i know from my own lived experience with BPD that our mind can take us to some incredibly dark and lonely places; i know what it’s like to sit in hopelessness, convinced death is the only option. I also learned how to come out the other side of that.
my work over the last two decades has taught me that is it absolutely possible to change your emotional landscape (hoorah neuroplasticity!) and what’s more, that you can learn to harness emotional sensitivity and empathic traits into skills that build strong relationships and confidence in your ability to handle whatever comes at you.
i’m not a “blank slate” therapist; i do not have a poker face. i show up ready to dig in and sit in the muck with you. i will support you in learning to sit with your feelings and decrease their power over you. together, we will map out your emotional landscape, and as you increase your understanding of how you respond emotionally, you can learn to change your response.
kind words
“Candida is consistently authentic, warm, funny, and generous. As a therapist (and, most importantly, a human), Candida moves through the world fully owning all of who she is, what she’s been through, and what she’s learned. Witnessing her approach makes me feel more confident to bring all of myself to the work, including (and celebrating) the parts I might otherwise be tempted to hide.”
— Vanessa Fernando, Registered Social Worker
“I am so glad I found Candida! She has helped me with incredibly complex cases and provided me with such wonderful and insightful guidance. As a result I’ve had some amazing break-throughs with clients! She is compassionate, wise and straight forward in her approach. Not only does she have a deep understanding as an expert in Borderline Personality Disorders and complex trauma, she also brings her lived experience to the work. Candida has such great insights and strategies and I highly recommend her to anyone wanting to sharpen their skills for working with complex cases.”
— Nadine Jans MSc. RCC, Founder Uptimize Coaching, Counselling and Training Ltd.
“Candida’s work with clients is intuitive, compassionate and creative. She is willing to work with the most complex issues that clients bring. I find her open minded, open to new learnings and very present with her clients. I trust her integrity and I know her heart is in the right place. I have no hesitation referring clients to her.”
— Lydia Rozental, Registered Clinical Counsellor
“Candida has a deep care and consideration for her clients. She is thoughtful, engaged and passionate about a broad range of counselling work, but I particularly value her expertise with clients who struggle with the impact of borderline personality disorder. Candida has an informed and effective approach when working with clients with BPD, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her.”
— Michelle Srdanovic, Registered Clinical Counsellor
ongoing offerings
enrolment for these offerings is ongoing. please get in touch to book a consultation.
〰️
enrolment for these offerings is ongoing. please get in touch to book a consultation. 〰️
emotionally exuberant - a group for BPDers
in this group you will learn to identify, express and take charge of your emotions.
through conversation, art and expressive exercises, you will develop skills and awareness so you can better understand your emotional needs and limits.
you'll have a chance to meet others who like you feel things deeply. together, you’ll help one another learn to identify patterns of reactivity and change them.
being part of a group helps you learn more about yourself and your relationships with others.
now accepting applications for september cohorts
click here to add yourself to the waitlist
it takes a village, people.
if you feel like you have to tiptoe around things and/or feel perplexed by your neurodivergent loved one, this group is for you.
connect with other parents of NDers & learn together how to better support someone in your life who has BPD, ADHD, is autistic, or otherwise neurodivergent.
part psychoeducation, part processing, this group is an opportunity to learn through relationship how to assess, express and meet your needs.
mentoring & mentorship opportunities and access to a private online group are also available.
want to know more? complete this form and i’ll reach out with next steps
sunday circles - candid converations about…
sunday circles (SC) is a series of curated conversations happening once a month on a sunday from 11:30am-1pm PST. *
(time zone converter)
at each session, attendees can expect an experiential exercise and dynamic discussion around one of the 12 topics with the recurring themes woven into all sessions.
come prepared for deep dives and intimate conversations. expect to leave feeling inspired and with increased clarity about your therapist parts.
*pass holders will get access to a private slack group, a monthly newsletter with tips and musings on session themes & will access to shared resources
office hours - drop-in discussions for helpers
this is a safe space to find community and build connection. office hours discussions will enrich your work and help you develop your professional identity.
we meet on zoom at all different days and times for 30-60 minutes. conversations are informal & you can arrive late or leave early if you need.
here's a bit more info on what to expect.
we'll dive right in. no introductions or having to announce the no. of years you've been practicing... this is a space for learning... everyone comes with their own unique wisdom, experience and perspective.
instead of ice breakers or getting-to-know-yous we'll dig into reddit posts and real-life examples of common themes that can come up in our work.
come in your pjs and/or work on other things will we chat. bring an open mind and a curious heart.
let’s connect:
thanks for wanting to work with me!
please click the link below to tell me about what you’re looking for. i’ll be in touch to book an unhurried conversation about how i might support you.
if you prefer, send me an email candida@candidamoreira.com
(if you don’t see an email from me within a week please check your junk folder)
“you will be too much for some people; those are not your people”
—glennon doyle