Candace Walls
Hello and welcome to Careful Heart Counseling Services. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I believe healing happens when people feel seen, supported, and safe enough to be honest about what they’re carrying. My practice focuses on children, adolescents, and teens. I work with youth ages 5–18, helping them develop emotional awareness, healthy coping skills, communication, and behavioral strategies while creating a safe space for them to express what they may not always have the words to say. I also support the parents and caregivers who are trying to balance work, family, relationships, and their own wellbeing. Because supporting a child often means supporting the people caring for them, I believe in working collaboratively with families to strengthen connection, communication, and understanding.
I strive to create a supportive space where clients feel both challenged and deeply supported, like having someone who calls you out with love and holds you down no matter what.
With more than eight years of clinical experience and 15 years serving Sacramento County’s community-based mental health and social service systems, I bring both clinical expertise and a heart centered approach to my work.
First session
Our first session is all about connection and clarity. We’ll take time to get to know one another, understand what brings you or your child to therapy, and begin identifying the concerns and goals you’d like us to address. The first session may include caregiver involvement, individual time with the child, or a combination of both, depending on age, developmental needs, and the presenting concerns. My priority is to create a safe, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space where children, teens, and caregivers feel heard, respected, and comfortable sharing their experiences. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. Together, we’ll start where you are, establish a foundation of trust, and identify meaningful next steps to support emotional well-being, healthier relationships, and growth.
Strengths
What sets my work apart is my ability to connect deeply with clients while remaining flexible, intentional, and clinically grounded in my approach. Whether we are working through emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, family conflict, communication, or the impact of past experiences, I meet each client with empathy and respect while helping them develop greater emotional awareness, confidence, and resilience. I believe effective therapy begins with connection. From there, we can create intentional, meaningful steps toward growth. I bring: Strong rapport-building with children and adolescents. A balance of warmth, structure, and accountability Adaptability across developmental stages. Culturally responsive care: including an understanding of the experiences of Black children and families of color A collaborative, family-centered lens Honest and direct communication
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are children ages 5–17 who may be experiencing emotional, behavioral, developmental, or relational challenges and the parents and caregivers seeking support for them.. To serve children, the family and parents must be open to collaboration, reflection, and learning new ways of communicating and coping are a good fit for my practice. My goal is to provide a supportive space where clients can better understand themselves, strengthen relationships, develop practical skills, and build greater confidence and resilience. If you’re someone who feels overwhelmed, tired of just surviving, or stuck in patterns that don’t serve you, but you’re also motivated to heal and grow, you’ll find a safe, supportive space with me. My clients often come ready to explore their emotions, challenge old beliefs, and build healthier coping skills, but may feel unsure about how to start or afraid to be vulnerable.
Origin story
My path to becoming a therapist was shaped by both what I witnessed growing up and what I experienced throughout my work in community mental health and social services. I come from a long line of strong women who cared deeply for others and often placed their own needs last. I saw how easily caring for everyone else could become a way of life, while emotional needs and personal well-being were quietly pushed aside. As I entered the mental health field, I began seeing that same pattern in the individuals and families I served. I became especially passionate about helping children and adolescents develop the emotional language, coping skills, and support they need to navigate life’s challenges, while also helping parents and caregivers understand and support their children. My clinical work has taught me that healing is not only about addressing what is wrong; it is also about creating space for people to feel seen, understood, supported, and equipped with the tools to move forward. That belief is at the heart of why I became a therapist and it continues to shape how I practice today.
Ongoing work together
Our ongoing work will be collaborative, intentional, and tailored to each client’s needs. We’ll regularly check in on the goals we established, explore what is changing, and adjust our approach as your needs evolve. For children and adolescents, progress may look like improved emotional awareness, stronger coping skills, better communication, healthier behaviors, increased confidence, or greater ability to navigate relationships and challenges. When appropriate, caregivers will be included in the process so that skills developed in therapy can be supported at home. For parents and caregivers, progress may include feeling more equipped to respond to challenging situations, strengthening family relationships, improving communication, and creating more balance in their own lives. Progress in therapy is not always linear. Sometimes it looks like a big breakthrough, and other times it looks like recognizing a feeling, using a new coping skill, communicating differently, or responding to a familiar situation in a new way. Together, we’ll pay attention to those changes, celebrate growth, and continue building on what is working.
Treatment methods
Play Therapy
I specialize in working with children and teens ages 5–18, helping them navigate emotional, behavioral, social, and developmental challenges with confidence and resilience. I understand that every child has a unique story. Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, behavioral concerns, ADHD, trauma, grief, life transitions, or relationship difficulties, I strive to create a welcoming space where they can express themselves, develop healthy coping skills, and discover their strengths. My therapeutic approach is warm, collaborative, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate. I tailor treatment to each child's individual needs by integrating evidence-based practices. I believe parents and caregivers are essential partners in a child's healing journey. When appropriate, I work collaboratively with families to strengthen communication, improve relationships, and provide practical tools that support lasting growth both at home and beyond the therapy room. My goal is not only to help children manage today's challenges but to equip them with the emotional skills and confidence they need to thrive throughout life.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy
With a deep understanding of early childhood development, I guide caregivers in tuning into their child’s needs, behaviors, and emotional cues. During sessions, both the child and parent participate together, allowing us to explore their relationship in real time. Through play, storytelling, and reflective dialogue, we work to create safety, rebuild trust, and promote healthy attachment.
Motivational Interviewing
In my practice through collaborative, client-centered sessions, I use MI to support clients who may feel stuck, uncertain, or overwhelmed when facing important decisions or trying to make meaningful changes in their lives. Rather than directing or pushing for change, I partner with clients to uncover their own motivations, values, and inner strengths. Through open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirming their autonomy, I help clients clarify their goals and build confidence in their ability to take the next steps.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
I am committed to providing culturally sensitive and affirming care that respects each client’s unique background, values, and lived experiences. I recognize that culture including race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, and family traditions, shapes how we see ourselves, relate to others, and experience the world.
Psychoeducation
Whether we’re exploring how anxiety affects the brain, discussing the impact of trauma, or learning new coping tools, I tailor psychoeducation to each client’s age, learning style, and needs. With children, this might include using books, visuals, or play-based explanations. With children and teens, it may involve open conversations, handouts, or skill-building exercises. My goal is to empower you with knowledge so you can make informed choices, better understand yourself, and feel more confident in your ability to manage life’s challenges.
Location
Virtual sessions
In-person sessions2020 29th St, Sacramento, CA 95817
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 138953