A nationally recognized researcher and mental health professional, Candice Williams, Ph.D. is a Texas native in Boston Massachusetts specializing in mental health counseling and sport performance. She currently serves as the Director of Mind Health and Wellness for the Boston Celtics. Previously, Dr. Williams served as an Athletics Counselor at The Ohio State University Athletics Department – Sports Psychology & Wellness Services where she provided psychotherapy and consultation services to student-athletes, coaches and athletic support staff. Prior to transitioning to college athletics, Dr. Williams served as a Program Manager for The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA). There, she assisted retired NFL players in all aspects of their transition following the success of their NFL career.
As a mental health professional, not only does she lead with care, but she also embodies the spirit of service and advocacy while supporting the well-being of athletes. Her passions include developing player centric programs focused on athlete development and transition, content creation on mental health related topics, as well as providing preventative and responsive training to coaches, parents, mental health professionals, and athletics staff on the importance of athlete mental health and wellness.
Over the past 10 years, Dr. Williams has crafted a respected career and professional reputation supporting the personal and emotional development of athletes at various levels of their athletic careers. An experienced mental health professional Dr. Williams is dedicated to building transformational relationships with stakeholders (i.e., athletes, coaches, sports medicine staff, sports performance staff) and developing innovative ways to foster access between athletes and mental health services.
She has been featured in popular press publications such as ESPN CollegeDay, Men’s Health Magazine, NCAA Champion Magazine, and USA Today – Sports. Dr. Williams is committed to elevating the conversations about mental health and sports performance. She’s a huge advocate for “training the body from the neck up and not just the neck down.” She is passionate about helping athletes move beyond the stigma associated with mental health and towards prioritizing their minds and bodies too.
