Candice Lynn Warner: Mending the Inner Child, Forging True Connection

PUBLISHED: 01 May 2025 | 3 MINUTE

Candice Lynn Warner Candice Lynn Warner wears many hats—mother, therapist, lecturer, entrepreneur—and she wears them all with purpose. Her journey, rooted in emotional healing and connection, has made her a powerful force in South Africa’s mental health space. Through her work, Candice helps others rewrite the emotional scripts of their lives while rewriting her own.

A Self-Published Breakthrough

When Candice released Reparenting the Inner Child, she wasn’t backed by a publishing house or a big-name brand. What she had was vision, experience, and a message that resonated. That was enough.

The book quickly sold over 1,000 copies—an impressive feat for any self-published author and was chosen by the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture as a key mental health resource. Now stocked in Cape Town libraries, the book is more than a publication; it’s a lifeline for individuals, families, students, and professionals seeking healing through self-awareness and connection.

Championing Healing Through Connection

Candice’s work is grounded in what she calls Connection Focused Therapy. Her approach is practical, empathetic, and deeply informed by years of experience in both clinical and academic settings. As an Independent Social Work Practitioner, she’s worked across government, private practice, and higher education.

For the past decade, she has also lectured at the South African College of Applied Psychology (SACAP), shaping the next generation of mental health professionals. Her teachings focus on emotional healing, trauma, and relationships—topics often sidelined in traditional training but essential for real-world impact.

Therapy for the Airwaves

Candice’s reach goes beyond therapy rooms and classrooms. As a regular contributor to Heart FM’s Mighty Monday segment, she brings mental health conversations into homes, cars, and workplaces across the Western Cape. Her insights—ranging from emotional regulation to parenting tips—are accessible, grounded, and often exactly what listeners need to hear on a tough Monday morning.

She’s become a trusted voice on radio, known for her ability to break down complex emotional concepts into simple, actionable steps.

A Voice for Working Mothers

Candice’s message strikes a particularly strong chord with working mothers. As a mom herself, she understands the strain of managing careers, caregiving, and the constant expectation to “do it all.” But instead of promoting hustle culture, she encourages intentional living.

“Healing doesn’t always require a huge life overhaul,” she says. “Sometimes, it’s about taking a deep breath, checking in with yourself, and making small shifts that help you feel more present.”

She doesn’t pretend to have balance figured out—but she’s figured out what matters: presence, priorities, and permitting yourself to shift focus without guilt.

Rooted in Purpose

Candice founded the Centre for Care and Contact in 2016, expanding her mission to bring emotional healing into communities. Her academic background—an Honours degree in Social Work and a Master’s in Philosophy focused on Children’s Rights and Family Law—grounds her practical work in deep theory and research.

She’s also challenging cultural narratives around motherhood and self-worth. In a society where women are often expected to put themselves last, Candice advocates fiercely for mothers to prioritise their own well-being.

“When mothers take care of themselves, they show up better for their families and those in their circle,” she says. “It’s not selfish—it’s necessary.”

Leaving a Legacy

Candice refers to her book as a “gift to the world”—and it’s clear she’s walking the talk. Her work is not just about personal success. It’s about creating ripples—reaching readers, clients, students, listeners, and fellow mothers. Her impact is wide and lasting.

At a time when emotional burnout is high and meaningful connection feels out of reach for many, Candice Lynn Warner offers a grounded, real-world path to healing—and she’s doing it all while raising a son, building a business, and showing what’s possible when purpose leads the way. Details: IG: @theconnectionfocusedtherapist

Photographs: Coco Sillifant Beauty: Hair: Exclusive Hair Collection Makeup by Florri Outfit: TFG Group