Candi Crawford, trauma and marriage therapist at Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson, Mississippi

Candi Crawford

MS, MA, LPC, NCC

Sometimes you know something needs to change, even if you aren't quite sure where to begin.

You may be carrying anxiety that never seems to turn off, the weight of something painful that happened years ago, grief that changed you, tension in your marriage, or patterns you understand intellectually but can't seem to change.

I believe therapy is less about repairing broken people and more about tending to the wounds we sustain.

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor who works with adults, individuals, and couples. I provide trauma-informed counseling, EMDR therapy, anxiety and grief counseling, and marriage and premarital counseling at Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson, Mississippi. For clients who want faith to be part of therapy, I also integrate Christian faith and theology into the counseling process.

With more than 15 years of counseling experience with individuals, couples, churches, and church-planting organizations, I bring both lived ministry wisdom and formal clinical training into the therapy room, and I'm protective of both.

Understanding Your "Why"

I work with clients to help them uncover their "why," discover their strengths and passions, and consider how those strengths can be used to nurture a healthier you.

Therapy isn't only about understanding what's hurting or what isn't working. It's also an opportunity to consider what you want to be different and what you're working toward.

Together, we'll identify what matters to you, recognize the strengths you already bring to the process, and use those insights to guide meaningful, lasting change.

Trauma, Complex Trauma, PTSD & EMDR Therapy

Trauma doesn't always stay neatly in the past.

Painful experiences can continue to shape the way you see yourself, respond to stress, experience relationships, handle conflict, or protect yourself from being hurt again. For people who have experienced repeated or long-term trauma, these patterns may be especially difficult to recognize and change.

I work with adults experiencing the effects of trauma, complex trauma, and PTSD, as well as other painful life experiences that continue to affect life in the present.

My work is trauma-informed, which means I pay attention not only to what has happened to you, but to the ways those experiences may have shaped how you cope, connect, protect yourself, and make sense of yourself and the world around you.

I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Levels I and II, and I am continuing to work toward EMDR certification. EMDR is one of the tools I may use to help clients process traumatic or distressing experiences that continue to affect their emotions, beliefs, relationships, or responses today.

Trauma therapy isn't about forcing you to revisit painful experiences before you're ready. The work begins with safety, trust, and understanding what you need.

Anxiety, Emotional Fatigue & Feeling Stuck

Sometimes the problem isn't one dramatic event. It's the exhaustion of carrying too much for too long.

Anxiety can look like constant worry, overthinking, irritability, perfectionism, difficulty relaxing, or always anticipating what could go wrong. You may appear capable on the outside while feeling emotionally exhausted underneath.

My approach is person-centered, trauma-informed, and grounded in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). That means I want you to experience empathy and genuine acceptance in the counseling relationship while also having practical tools to help you move forward.

Together, we may look at the connections between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, gently challenge narratives that are no longer serving you, and consider how past experiences may be shaping the way you respond and cope today.

I don't believe one approach works for everyone. I draw from different therapeutic approaches based on your experiences, needs, and the concerns bringing you to counseling.

Your story deserves more than a formula.

Marriage, Couples & Premarital Counseling

Relationships have a way of exposing some of our deepest patterns.

You may love each other deeply and still find yourselves having the same argument again and again. Perhaps communication has become tense, emotional safety has eroded, or you feel more like roommates than partners. Sometimes a couple isn't in crisis at all, they simply want to build a healthier foundation for the future.

I work with couples navigating communication difficulties, conflict, disconnection, relationship strain, and major transitions. I also provide premarital counseling for couples who want to better understand themselves and one another before marriage.

My couples training includes Level II training in the Gottman Method as well as certification as a Prepare/Enrich Facilitator.

Couples counseling isn't about deciding who is right and who is wrong. It gives us a place to understand what is happening between you, recognize the patterns that keep pulling you apart, and practice new ways of communicating and connecting.

Faith and Therapy, Together

I am passionate about the intersection of faith and therapy. For clients who desire Christian counseling or want to integrate their faith into the therapeutic process, I believe therapy does not replace trust in the Lord; it can strengthen it.

Scripture consistently holds hope and responsibility together: “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18, NIV).

Prayer matters. Surrender matters. And so does the courageous work of growth.

Therapy is less about repairing broken people and more about tending to the wounds we sustain. It creates space for reflection, clarity, skill-building, and compassion, a place where patterns can be explored without shame, emotions can be named safely, and new ways of relating can be practiced intentionally.

Therapy invites you to become more aware of yourself, more aligned with your values, and more equipped to engage your relationships with wisdom and care.

Faith integration is always guided by your preferences. Clients who do not want faith incorporated into counseling are welcome, and those preferences will be respected.

Sometimes the action God invites us into is asking for support.

Rooted in cultural humility.

Culture shapes how we understand suffering, how we relate to others, how we ask for help, and even what healing means to us.

I am deeply committed to cultural humility and multicultural competence. My years of work with multiethnic ministry and church-planting organizations have given me the privilege of working alongside people from diverse backgrounds and communities.

I don't believe cultural competence means assuming I already understand someone else's experience. It means bringing curiosity, humility, respect, and a willingness to listen.

I want therapy to be a place where the whole of who you are, including your experiences, values, culture, relationships, and beliefs can be approached with genuine attentiveness and care.

My Training & Professional Background

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).

I earned my Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University and my Master of Science in Psychology from the University of Phoenix. I am currently a doctoral candidate at Colorado Christian University.

My professional training and approaches include:

  • Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Levels I and II

  • Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Levels I and II

  • Prepare/Enrich Certified Facilitator

  • Trauma and complex trauma counseling

  • Trauma-informed therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Person-centered therapy

  • Christian counseling and faith integration

  • Culturally sensitive and multicultural counseling

I have more than 15 years of counseling experience working with individuals, couples, churches, and church-planting organizations.

Areas I Can Help With

I work with adults, individuals, and couples experiencing concerns such as:

In-Person Counseling in Jackson & Telehealth Throughout Mississippi

I see clients in person at Watershed Counseling Associates in Jackson, Mississippi and provide secure telehealth counseling for clients throughout Mississippi.

I am currently accepting new clients and am in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) and Aetna. Self-pay is also available.

Beyond the counseling room

Outside of the counseling room, I am an avid reader and love listening to music from the '60s through the '90s, traveling, and sitting quietly and reflectively overlooking the ocean or the Gulf.

My husband and I have been married for quite some time, and we have two amazing sons. When I'm not engulfed in "guy things" during family time, you'll often find me working with church planters, serving in my local church, or diligently working on research and certifications.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

You don't have to know exactly what needs to change or how to get there before you begin. That's part of the work we can do together.

If trauma, anxiety, painful experiences, or relationship struggles are affecting the way you live or connect with the people who matter to you, therapy can be a place to begin understanding those patterns and working toward meaningful change.

I am currently accepting new clients for in-person counseling in Jackson and telehealth throughout Mississippi.

Contact Watershed Counseling Associates 601-362-7020 to schedule an appointment with me.

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