Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Burge, MSW, LCSW.
Hi Candace, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always had a desire to be a source of support for others, but that passion is also rooted in my own experiences. Growing up, I faced challenges with understanding my own emotions and finding the words to express what I was feeling. In many ways, I see pieces of myself in the clients I serve today, especially in those who are trying to make sense of emotions they were never taught to name.
That connection began to take shape in high school when I was first introduced to psychology, and I quickly fell in love with understanding how people think, feel, and navigate their experiences. I continued that journey in undergrad, where I studied psychology and deepened my passion for mental health. From there, I went on to earn my Master’s in Social Work from North Carolina A&T State University, which led me into clinical practice.
Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of settings where I observed a common theme: access to mental health education and acceptance of services was often limited. In the therapy room, I began to see firsthand how this gap impacts individuals, especially young Black and Brown boys who are often expected to “just figure it out” without the tools or language to understand their emotions.
Over time, a pattern became clear. Many Black and Brown boys are not struggling because they lack depth, but because they have not been given the space or support to express what they feel. That realization stayed with me and ultimately inspired my children’s book, Yurie and The Copycat Chameleon.
This book is an extension of both my professional work and my personal journey. It reflects my mission to introduce emotional intelligence early and intentionally, and to help create safe spaces where children feel seen, understood, and empowered to express who they are and what they feel.
Today, I continue to show up in both the therapy room and through my writing with the same goal: to equip individuals with the tools to better understand themselves and build meaningful, emotionally healthy lives.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My authorship journey has felt like a lot of alignment. The idea came to me. The vision grew. The pieces started coming together. In so many ways, I felt like I was being led toward something bigger than myself.
What I didn’t expect was how much of myself I would have to confront along the way. Having the idea is one thing. Executing it is another.
Putting yourself out there? Allowing yourself to be seen? Believing that what you have to say is worthy of taking up space? That has been one of the hardest parts for me. I’ve been given this idea, this purpose, this mission, but I’ve had to realize that I can’t deliver it while hiding behind it. People have to see me and that has been scary.
There have been moments when I questioned myself, overthought everything, and wanted to shrink back into what felt safe. Moments when I knew what I was called to do, but still didn’t feel confident enough to fully show up and do it. So much of this journey has been about more than writing and publishing a book. It has been about becoming someone who is willing to be visible. Someone willing to say, “I created this.” Someone willing to believe in the work before everyone else does. Someone willing to show up, even when being seen feels uncomfortable.
I’m still working through that, but maybe courage isn’t always feeling confident. Maybe sometimes it’s having the fear, the doubts, and the vulnerability and showing up anyway.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Licensed Clinical Therapist dedicated to helping children, tweens, teens, and adults cultivate emotional well-being and resilience. My work centers around guiding individuals through the ups and downs of their emotions, helping them build the awareness and language needed to understand what they feel and why it matters.
I specialize in social-emotional development, with a strong focus on supporting youth as they develop emotional intelligence early in life. I am particularly passionate about creating safe, affirming spaces where children feel seen, heard, and empowered to express themselves.
I am known for blending clinical insight with creativity. Through my work as both a therapist and an author, I translate real-life therapeutic themes into relatable, accessible stories that meet children where they are. My writing is deeply inspired by what I witness in the therapy room, allowing me to extend the impact of my work beyond those I see in session and into homes, classrooms, and communities.
What I am most proud of is being able to turn observation into action. Instead of simply recognizing gaps in emotional support, especially for young boys, I created tools to help fill them. Whether in therapy or through my books, my goal remains the same: to equip people with the tools to understand themselves, communicate their emotions, and build meaningful connections with others.
What sets me apart is my ability to bridge the gap between clinical practice and everyday life. I do not just teach emotional intelligence, I create experiences, stories, and environments where it can be felt, practiced, and lived.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is being a vessel for changing the stigma attached to mental health.
As a therapist, I’m clearly passionate about mental health, but I’m also a person who has experienced my own struggles. I know what it feels like to carry emotions that are difficult to put into words. I know how lonely it can feel to be misunderstood.
That’s a big part of why this work means so much to me. I want every child to feel seen, heard, and understood. I want them to have the words to express what’s happening inside of them and to know that their feelings deserve space. When children learn that their emotions are safe to express, they begin to understand themselves differently.
I want to help create a world where we approach mental health with more intention, curiosity, compassion, and less judgment. A world where we don’t wait until someone is struggling to start caring about their mental health.
If my work can help even one child feel a little less alone in what they’re feeling, then this mission is worth it.
Pricing:
- Yurie and the Copycat Chameleon: A Colorful Book About Feelings, Price $18.99.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.candaceslibrary.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksbycandace
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1A3MNrbqd8/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@booksbycandace
