Meet Candice Cooper-Lovett | Marriage and Family Therapist, Sex Therapist & Certified Life Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Candice Cooper-Lovett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Candice, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I am from Buffalo, NY and I grew up primarily on the east side. I had very humble beginnings which shaped how I am today. I grew up in a community where there was violence, and drugs. My parents and grandparents taught me the importance of education and getting good grades. It was also important for me to learn about how far I could go in life and accomplishing my goals just by staying focused and disciplined. I consider myself as very humble, sometimes to a fault. I’ve had to learn how to work hard to get the things that I wanted and needed and never took for granted the things that I’ve received and obtained in my life. I am also a hard worker and anything I put my mind to I ensure that I follow through and finish. This was especially true when I started my business. I knew that I wanted to make an impact through mental health. I am also kind of “rough around the edges” which makes me relatable to my clients. As my coach told me a while ago I have a “homegirl next door” feel where people can come to me and talk and also offer a professional feel at the same time. That was also from my upbringing where I felt the need to be tough in order to persevere and endure some of the difficult things that I had faced in my life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
A New Creation is a mental health business where I focus on individual, couple, and family therapy. My focus is primarily in the area of trauma as it relates to domestic violence and sexual abuse/assault. I also do a lot of work with couples around infidelity recovery as well as sexuality and sexual issues. My business focus is on co-creating healing to individuals, couples, and families becoming the best versions of themselves. Creating something “new” which is who they are at the core and finding that best self.What sets me apart from others primarily is my style. I am a very easy person to talk to as well as relatable, though we all come from different experiences and walks of life I pride myself at making anyone comfortable. I’ve been told when I get referrals sent to me that I’m known to “crack a nut” which I am proud that I’m known for that. It lets people know that I create safety and comfort to go to that most vulnerable place. I always strive to create a safe and therapeutic environment that fosters healing and growth. My focus is on post-traumatic growth which is the type of growth that focuses on how difficult life circumstances have made you better and stronger which facilitated transformational change, the best analogy I love to use for this concept is the process of a caterpillar to a butterfly. I started off part time when I first opened in 2015 up until the end of 2016. Starting off was a little difficult as I was trailblazing my way through I did not have entrepreneurs in my family, so it was a lot of things that I had to figure out on my own. It was also difficult when it came to finances. I started off in the red because of overhead and other expenses. I had more coming out than coming in. I got my first client two months after starting my private practice. I had to trip a couple of times before finding my groove in my business. I realized that I had to learn about the business of doing business. My expertise and craft were the easy part, learning how to run and manage a business was a challenge. I also surrounded myself by other business owners of different crafts which was very helpful as well when it came to learning tips and getting guidance about business. Lessons that I’ve learned thus far is not to sell myself short. I have value in what I do and deserve to be paid for it. As I mentioned earlier, I had to learn the business of doing business. I also learned that in order to make a large impact in the world I would need the wealth to substantiate that. I used to feel bad about wanting to make a decent living from what I did, however that has changed over the years. The more I make, the more I can make a difference in the world. I went to a money conference hosted by Monica Shah years ago and she gave me a new mantra about money “Being wealthy is my birthright and it allows me to change the world.” I am not just a therapist but I am also a mental health speaker. I love to speak on various topics that I am passionate about such as domestic violence, female sexuality and pleasure, motivation and empowerment for women, relationships and sex, and destigmatizing mental health in the Black community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I like to do a lot of different things out here in Atlanta particularly (This interary would be the case if we were not in a pandemic). I would take them to the best food places out here like a Mexican place to start out with. We would also go to a movie I love scary movies and my friends know that about me so that would be expected. We would also to a day trip to warm springs winery to talk and enjoy ourselves and we can do a tasting for a couple of hours. Going for walks is also something nice for example there is a trail around my neighborhood that is about a mile and I could take my fur baby Sparky along with us for the walk to get in some good exercising. Next on the itinerary for the week we would go to a karaoke bar where we can sing our favorite songs, I’ve gotten out of my shell over the years singing in front of people, it’s a great time! I also like going to lounges where it is laid back and we can sit down, particularly an older crowd and listen to some live jazz music, particularly Gritz and Jelly Butter which is a good group. It would be a combination of sight-seeing, live music, good food.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mother. She taught me the meaning of sacrifice, even if it meant her being inconvenienced to do so for the sake of her children. She has always been a dedicated and hard worker. She has always been a very strong person and has been through so much and came out of it. She taught us about independence and learning how to take care of ourselves so that we would be self-sufficient. She was a single mother of 3 girls and raised us the best she knew how. She was the type of mother who would give the shirt off of her back if she needed to for the sake of her children. I am a new mom of a 5 month old and striving to become half the mother that she has been to me in my life. My grandmother. She taught me a lot of things over the years in regard to the importance of going to school and making something of myself. She was like my mom who was also a dedicated and hard worker when it came to the things that she’s done. She kept us in church and taught us of God and the importance of keeping him first in our lives. My mentor and professional mother Dr. Marlene Watson, a Black woman who took to me and believed in me in ways that I did not believe in myself. Her mentorship and guidance were so very helpful to me during my doctoral years and beyond. It meant so much to me to see her and her success in our field and how she carried herself with such grace and dignity. Her tenacity, strength, and perseverance were the things that I wanted to aspire to be as a Black woman and professional. The McNair scholars program taught me to believe in myself and that I was capable of obtaining a PhD. I was a participant in this program during my undergraduate studies. It taught me how to become the dynamic speaker, that I am today. It also taught me about research and it put me a step ahead when I entered into graduate school. Without the guidance of that program I would not be in the position that I am in now.

Website: anewcreationpsychotherapy.com, drcooplove.com
Instagram: instagram.com/anewcreationpsy, instagram.com/drcooplove
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-candice-cooper-lovett-lmft-clc-sex-therapist-04482530
Twitter: twittter.com/anewcreationpsy, twitter.com/drcooplove
Facebook: facebook.com/anewcreationpsy, facebook.com/drcooplove
Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCBhTXfo9NL_R1MPHNKQxsyQ

Image Credits
Professional headshots: MarcNorsworthy&Co (Pictures), Makeup: HXProfessional, Somanetha Moulate