Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Webster, TX covered by United Healthcare

Candra is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who is funny, driven, loyal, compassionate, and, most importantly, a human being who genuinely cares about people. I strive daily to serve clients who need support reaching their goals in life.

Whether you are a teen trying to find your way, a struggling college student, navigating corporate America, a single parent juggling it all, or an overachiever who needs permission to rest, I am here to help meet your needs. Not everyone needs medication. Sometimes, people simply need someone to talk to who actually cares, listens, and understands. Others may need assistance with medication, and that is perfectly fine too. When medication is appropriate, we will work together to find an option that best meets your individual needs. I provide an integrative approach to mental health care that is holistic, realistic, practical, and safe. Whether you are dealing with depression, anxiety, insomnia, ADHD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, trauma, a breakup, a bad grade, a failed marriage, job loss, or simply a difficult season of life, I can help. My goal is for you to leave each session feeling heard, supported, and clear about your next steps. Healing isn’t a solo journey, and I’m here to walk it with you.

What I most want to impress upon you all is that I myself, have over 210 hours on the couch. I have been engaged in my own inner work since 2013. I continue and plan to always dig deeper within to extract every inch of meaning that is possible to obtain on this journey of life to leave this world a little better than I found it.

You've been called too much, or not enough. Maybe both, depending on the room. I work with individuals and couples in affirming, culturally responsive therapy. POC, LGBTQIA+ folks, people in ENM and nontraditional relationships, and anyone who's spent a lifetime translating themselves to be understood. Clients come in carrying grief, people-pleasing patterns, identity questions, the weight of being misread, or a relationship that's drifted, gone quiet, or is trying to find a new shape that actually fits. I'll challenge you and stay warm doing it. I don't ask you to shrink or perform to be met. This is a space to be known in full.

You’ve probably spent a lot of time trying to make things work. You’ve read the books, tried different approaches, had the hard conversations, and stayed hopeful through the ups and downs. But despite your efforts, the same patterns keep surfacing. Maybe connection still feels out of reach, or the overwhelm continues to build. Therapy can offer space to pause, reflect, and grow with support that meets you where you are and helps you move toward the change you’re ready for.

I hold a PhD in Social Work with a specialization in Family Studies. I’m a therapist, researcher, and educator who works with individuals, couples, and families navigating relational stress, trauma, identity shifts, and emotional exhaustion. I specialize in helping people explore what’s beneath the surface and create new ways of relating with others and with themselves. I bring years of experience focused on attachment, trauma, and relational health through both clinical practice and academic research. This work is not just my profession. It is what I live, teach, and continue to study with intention and heart.

I’m Emily, owner of Alive and Whole Wellness and a Houston-based therapist. I specialize in therapy for lasting change by helping my clients heal at the root of their anxiety and move forward in life alive in purpose, whole in identity, and free from fear.

What to expect through therapy

Imagine a space where...

• You have a safe, trusting relationship where you freely and securely share your story.
• You identify the roots of your struggles and experience healing in mind, body, and spirit.
• You learn to reconnect with your sense of self and step back into life alive, whole, and free.
• Your past no longer keeps you feeling stuck, but becomes a part of your testimony as you move forward.

Hello and welcome—I'm so glad you're here.

My name is Shanna Gardner, LPC-S, and I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor with over 20 years of experience in the mental health field. I'm deeply passionate about helping individuals navigate life’s challenges and discover a sense of peace, purpose, and emotional wellness.

I believe that therapy should be a space where you feel safe, heard, and truly understood. Whether you're dealing with overwhelming stress, navigating a tough life transition, or managing symptoms of anxiety or depression, I’m here to support you every step of the way.

Greetings, I am a therapist in private practice for over fifteen years. I am dually licensed as a mental health therapist and an addictions therapist.