At Handel Behavioral Health, we believe the heart of effective counseling lies in genuine connection, safety, and meeting clients where they are. Kandace Carlin, LMHC, brings all of that and more to her practice in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Her journey into counseling is rooted in creativity, resilience, and a deep respect for each client’s unique story.

A Background Shaped by Creativity and Life Experience

Kandace’s professional path began with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Visual Arts with a minor in Art Therapy. Kandace was drawn to psychology through her interest in how people express themselves through art and the benefits it can have for their mental health.

Following the loss of her husband, Kandace sought support for her own grief journey, discovering firsthand the importance of connection, community, and having a safe place to heal and be heard.

Her experience motivated her to pursue a master’s degree in counseling, taking advantage of online education so she could balance her studies with time spent healing with her family.

Kandace started out practicing group therapy at an inpatient mental health and substance abuse facility. While valuable, she discovered her passion for outpatient, one-on-one therapy, where she could foster deeper therapeutic relationships and create more individualized care.

A Flexible, Integrative Counseling Style

Kandace describes her approach as integrative and tailored to each client’s strengths and needs. She draws from several evidence-based modalities, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Polyvagal-informed therapy and nervous system regulation

She places strong emphasis on understanding the nervous system and how its responses can disconnect us from ourselves and others, often contributing to anxiety, depression, and isolation.

Kandace also incorporates creative approaches such as art or music therapy. These modalities can be especially helpful for clients who struggle to express themselves through words alone.

Kandace is deeply open to working with diverse populations and values learning about each client’s cultural background. She emphasizes that connections can either sustain us or drain us, and building a supportive community around you is integral to the success of therapy.

What Clients Can Expect in the First Session

Kandace prioritizes establishing emotional safety and trust. She often begins by thanking clients for trusting her with their journey, acknowledging the courage it takes to seek support.

Clients can expect:

• A warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment
• Collaboration: therapy is about what you want to work on
• Authentic connection: Kandace often shares a bit about herself by answering questions thoughtfully and honestly to model healthy communication and gain trust

Kandace’s goal in her first session with a client is to help them feel at ease so they can share openly, as well as remind them that they are the experts on their own lives and empower them to lead the way.

Choose Your Own Journey

Kandace believes clients should set their own goals. She often asks questions like: What do you want from therapy? What do you hope will be different?

If a client isn’t sure where to start, that’s okay, too. Kandace will help you explore the different areas of your life—work, family, relationships, and social supports—to better understand what may be helping or hindering well-being.

Encouraging Without Enabling

Kandace is a strong advocate for her clients, whether that means helping them access resources or challenging patterns that no longer serve them. But this doesn’t mean agreeing with everything they say.

Kandace instead helps clients reflect on their choices with curiosity:

• What made you decide to do that?
• What outcome are you hoping for?
• How has this worked for you in the past?

This reflective process supports self-awareness and accountability that can empower the individual to make healthier decisions on their own going forward.

Counseling (and hockey) in Amherst, Massachusetts

Kandace provides in-person therapy sessions in Amherst, MA, and offers telehealth counseling throughout Massachusetts.

Originally from Maine, she has lived in Massachusetts since 2001. One of her favorite local escapes is the Quabbin Reservoir. Kandace finds the blend of water and mountains reminds her of her upbringing near Bar Harbor and offers a sense of calm and grounding.

Kandace is also an avid hockey fan, from UMass hockey to the Bruins (and now cheering for Marchand on the Panthers).

Find the Right Fit

Kandace’s advice to people seeking therapy: finding someone you connect with matters. Therapy is a relationship, and feeling safe, understood, and encouraged can make all the difference.

Handel Behavioral Health has a diverse group of professional, experienced, and compassionate therapists with varying specialties that allows us to provide clients with a tailored experience.

If you’re looking for a therapist in Amherst who blends compassion, creativity, and genuine encouragement, Kandace Carlin, LMHC, brings a thoughtful and human-centered approach to the healing process.

To request an appointment with Kandace, our new therapist in Amherst, Massachusetts, click here or call (413) 343-4357.

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