Meet Candace Lance.
I literally turned 40, had been laid off for the second time in less than a year, returned to graduate school, and now I have slammed that reset button interning as a marriage and family therapist (MFT-I). I am thrilled to be apart of the team at Aspire Counseling Services under direct supervision by Stefanie Pertersen, LMFT. I am transparent that I have lived life, but I am learning and growing daily.
Not the life their parents wanted. Not the life their culture prescribed. Not the should and the would. Their actual life.
I know what it feels like to perform a version of yourself for years before you find your way back. I lived it. Corporate life, military spouse, infertility, miscarriage, parenting a neurodiverse kid, navigating systems that were not built for people who refuse to fit the mold. That lived experience is not on my resume but it is in the room every single session.
How I work.
Sessions feel calm and casual. More like a real conversation than therapy. We start with what is already working and build forward from there. We slow down, get present and figure out where you actually want to go. Sometimes we bring in a little woo to lighten things up.
I believe softness and strength were never opposites. That your body is home not a project. That the armor you have been wearing is not who you are. It is what you needed to survive. And that with the right conditions you can put it down.
You were never lost. Never broken. Never wrong. You were simply waiting for the right conditions to open. That is true for you too
Who I work with.
I am a Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (MFT-I) being supervised by Stefanie Peterson, LMFT with Aspire Counseling Services in Layton, Utah. I specialize in all things couples. Communication, conflict, intimacy, infidelity, premarital work, discernment and the conversations most couples never get to have with anyone. I also work with individuals navigating anxiety, trauma, PTSD, and major life transitions. And I have a deep love for the perinatal season. Infertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum depression. This season is one of the most significant and most underserved and you deserve more than just getting through it.
Who I am outside of the office.
I grew up in Southern California but the mountains were calling and Utah has been home ever since with my husband and son. I teach outdoor yoga, hike, ski and collect experiences over things. You will find me at the farmers market, deep in a garden or at an outdoor concert. Creating and cooking is my love language. I quote movies and music in everyday conversation. I have a sleeve of tattoos and strong opinions about real Mexican food. I am always in the middle of a new project so ask me what I am working on.
How I take care of myself.
I start every morning with a grounding ritual that includes meditation, journaling and gratitude before the day takes over. Movement is non-negotiable for me. I teach yoga and get outside as much as possible because nature is genuinely my reset button. I have also done my own work in therapy and it matters to me that I know what it feels like to sit on that couch.
Education & Professional Experience
Education
Candidate - Master of Arts, Marriage & Family Therapy, Specialization in Couples Therapy, National University
Master of Business Administration, Specialization in Marketing, National University
Bachelor of Arts, Communication Studies, Specialization in Interpersonal & Organizational Communication, California State University, Long Beach
Relevant Professional Development
Emotionally Focused Therapy Fundamentals
Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Externship
Level 1 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy (in-progress)
Certified Informed Sex Therapy Professional
Professional Experience
Regiserted Yoga Teach 200HR (2021- Present)
Crisis Counselor, Crisis Text Line (2025-2026)
Marketing Professional (2005- 2026)