Today we’d like to introduce you to Candice Reyes.
Candice, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Her Well Center was born from a calling, one rooted in deep compassion, lived experience, and a desire to see God restore what trauma tried to destroy.
In 2018, as founder Candice Reyes began intentionally engaging her own healing journey, she experienced God’s restoration in a profound and personal way. As she unpacked her trauma and found freedom, she sensed God asking her to trust Him, to step into vulnerability, and to create a place where survivors could receive the same evidence-based healing and spiritual renewal she had been given at no cost to them.
At first, she resisted. Candice did not want to be defined by her trauma or known as “that girl.” She feared the visibility, vulnerability, and responsibility that such a calling required.
Then, in May 2018, just one month before her 38th birthday, everything changed. While teaching a lesson, God used her own words to confirm His purpose for her life. In that moment of surrender, Candice realized she could no longer run from what God was asking her to do. That turning point ignited the beginning of what would one day become Her Well Center.
In 2021, she launched Hooks2Crook Ministries, a discipleship ministry that produced an award-winning Bible study in multiple languages and partnered with churches to distribute Bibles and resources around the world. Yet even as the ministry expanded globally, God continued to make something clear: this was only the root of the calling.
The heart of her purpose was to walk closely with survivors and help them restore how they view intimacy since it had been broken by the harm that was caused by another individual.
In 2023, with the full support and blessing of her husband, Candice stepped out in faith, left her stable career, and opened Her Well Center. She began serving survivors wherever they were found, in hospital rooms, church pews, coffee shops, and crisis calls at midnight. What started as one-to-one outreach quickly grew into a ministry defined by presence, compassion, and advocacy.
As the need grew, so did the vision. Her Well Center expanded into a place where survivors of sexual trauma and intimate partner violence could receive evidence-based, trauma-informed care wrapped in unwavering love and Christ-centered support. Services now include advocacy, counseling, neurofeedback, support groups, case management, crisis intervention, and the development of Samaria House, a residential refuge offering safety, stabilization, and restoration for women in crisis.
From the beginning, Her Well Center has stood on one foundational truth:
Every survivor deserves a safe place to heal, find hope, and experience the restoration God offers them.
What began as one woman’s obedience has grown into a team, a community, and a sanctuary of hope for survivors across Waller, Fort Bend, and Harris Counties. Today, Her Well Center continues to grow, not by chance, but by faith, as staff, volunteers, and partners walk alongside survivors toward healing, empowerment, and transformation.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been smooth in the sense that God has consistently guided and provided, but it has not been without bumps, challenges, and even grief. Building Her Well Center has required navigating uncertainty, limited resources, and the emotional weight that comes with walking closely alongside survivors during their most painful moments.
There have been seasons of stretching faith, moments of exhaustion, and times of personal loss that required deep reliance on God and the community around us. Growth has come with difficult decisions, learning curves, and the responsibility of stewarding both people and purpose with integrity.
Yet each challenge has refined the mission rather than deterred it. The obstacles along the way have strengthened our resolve, deepened our compassion, and affirmed that this work is not ours alone; it is something God continues to lead, sustain, and grow.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Her Well Center, we provide a comprehensive, trauma-informed continuum of care for survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence. Our work centers on meeting survivors in their most vulnerable moments and walking alongside them toward healing, restoration, and long-term stability.
We specialize in survivor-centered advocacy and evidence-based care, delivered with compassion and dignity. Our services include crisis intervention, hospital and legal advocacy, counseling, neurofeedback, support groups, case management, prevention education, and optional Biblical faith-building courses. We are also launching Samaria: Crisis Housing & Stabilization Program, which offers short-term, healthy housing for women and children while addressing the underlying trauma that often keeps families stuck in cycles of crisis.
What we are known for is how we serve. We combine clinical excellence with deep relational care, never rushing healing, never reducing survivors to a checklist, and never separating compassion from accountability. We operate with strong boundaries, ethical standards, and measurable outcomes while creating an environment where survivors feel seen, believed, and valued. Our goal is to provide a space where survivors feel peace and confidence as they engage in their healing, even while sitting in the “goo” of unresolved trauma. We walk with them through what we call the Butterfly Transformation Process, honoring the slow, courageous work of becoming.
What sets Her Well Center apart is our integration of evidence-based practices with Christ-centered values, offered without discrimination or conditions. Survivors are never required to share their faith to receive care; instead, they are met with respect, choice, and support. Healing at Her Well is personalized, holistic, and paced according to each survivor’s unique needs.
What we are most proud of is the trust survivors place in us. Many arrive in moments of crisis and fear, and over time, they rediscover their voice, rebuild confidence, and move toward lives marked by safety and hope. Witnessing that transformation, quiet, courageous, and deeply human, is at the heart of why we do this work.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
This work has never been done alone, and there are many people who deserve credit for the growth and impact of Her Well Center.
First, I am deeply grateful for my husband, Elias Reyes, whose unwavering support, encouragement, and belief in this calling made it possible for me to step out in faith and lead with courage. His steadiness behind the scenes has been foundational.
I am also incredibly thankful for my family, my mom, my Gigi, my dad, and my brother, Cody, who have stepped up to serve wherever and whenever needed. They have chosen not to remain silent about our journey and have faithfully prayed through every season, witnessing God move mountains in ways only He can. Their prayers, encouragement, and willingness to walk alongside me have been a constant source of strength.
Our Board of Directors has been instrumental in providing governance, accountability, and strategic leadership. I am thankful for Abbie Wylie, our Board President, whose guidance and heart for the mission keep us grounded and forward-focused; Melissa Clark, whose insight and support have strengthened our work; Jimmy Sanders, our Treasurer, who will be stepping into a Security leadership role this coming year and played a key role in helping us secure the building from which we launched; Mario Lara, who will be stepping into the Treasurer role; Kathy Odom, whose wisdom and faith have been a constant encouragement; and John Mook, who recently joined the board and brings valuable perspective and advocacy to our mission.
I could not begin to reach the volume of clients we serve, or provide the quality of care Her Well is known for, without our extraordinary staff team. These women are truly the blood, sweat, and tears of Her Well Center. Ashley Noble, Director of Samaria; Taylor Miller, Financial Director; Tina Cabrera, Program Coordinator; and Nailyn Acosta, Case Manager, each bring excellence, compassion, and deep commitment to the survivors we serve. Alongside them, our volunteers generously give their time, skills, and hearts, extending our impact every day.
I am also profoundly thankful for Patrina Pelton-Smith, who took a chance on me early on, became my mentor, and helped write our first federally funded grant. She has walked beside me through some of our greatest challenges and has been a steady cheerleader during moments of doubt, reminding me of both the mission and my own capacity to lead it. I am equally grateful to Ryan Holck, who designed our website, challenged me to clarify our message, and introduced me to Patrina. Ryan has empowered me to focus fully on the work itself, trusting that the right people will find us and come alongside the mission thanks to his website design.
Our work would not be complete without the support of our local church partners, community organizations, and contract counselors who said yes to providing client-centered, trauma-informed treatment plans. Their willingness to partner ensures survivors receive holistic, well-rounded care.
Finally, I honor the clients we serve. Their courage, trust, and perseverance are at the heart of Her Well Center. They are the reason this work exists, and the reason we continue to show up every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://herwell.org/
- Instagram: Instagram@herwell_ministry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herwellcenter?mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=h5WomqIiPr9IVJVr&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1ABgnKjCNm%2F%3Fmibextid%3DwwXIfr
- Youtube: Youtube@HerWell-oz6zr
- Other: TikTok@herwellcenter
Image Credits
Laura Chiles, Taylor Miller, Candice Reyes
