Kandice Swarthout, RDH, LPC
Kandice Swarthout, RDH, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Dental Hygienist. She is a full-time dental hygiene educator in Texas, where she teaches community dentistry and research. Kandice is the owner of Inspired Education & Wellness, where she is a speaker, writer, and private practice therapist. Her unique blend of clinical expertise in both dental hygiene and mental health equips her to assist fellow healthcare professionals in recognizing not only their patients’ needs but also their own, fostering deeper connections with the healthcare community.
Kandice’s dedication extends to her role as an approved provider for Texas Health and Human Services, specializing in human trafficking training for healthcare providers.
Additionally, Kandice brings a touch of fun and camaraderie to the dental community as the co-owner of Muffins & Mimosas Dental Study Club. She offers engaging, in-person dental continuing education that creates a warm and welcoming environment for friends and colleagues to come together to learn.
Read her articles in Today’s RDH column, Mental Health Spotlight. Contact Kandice through her website at www.kandiceswarthout.com or on social media @The Counselor Hygienist.
Mental Health Spotlight: Navigating “I Hate the Dentist” Moments Using Trauma-Informed Care
As soon as the words, "I hate the dentist," fly from my patient's mouth and land in the pit of my soul, I immediately...
Mental Health Spotlight: Hygienists Can Utilize Implementation Intentions to Achieve Goals
The clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve, and magically, we are to be a changed being, living by a new set of rules...
Mental Health Spotlight: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Treating First Responders in the Dental Setting
Warning: This article contains explicit descriptions of a traumatic event that may be a trigger for some individuals.
When the brave people who serve as...
Mental Health Spotlight: Grief Can Make Holiday Dental Appointments Not So Jolly and Bright
For most of us, the holidays are a time of joy, family, remembrance, feasting, and celebration. We come together with family and friends with...
Can Self-Care be Painful? The Hard Work of Deep Self-Care
The term self-care has become a popular buzzword, usually encouraging us to engage in activities that fill our souls and provide a resting place...
Patient Education: Why Dental Hygienists Should Stop Being Minimizers
Several years ago, it occurred to me that I was a minimizer. I heard myself say things to my patients, such as, “You have...
Roadblocks or Freedom? Using Boundaries in the Dental Office and Life
The word boundary is often misused or misunderstood. Many of my counseling clients believe a boundary means being harsh, aggressive, or saying “no” at...
‘Leave It at the Door’: Controlling Emotions in the Dental Workplace
Over the years, I have heard many different cliches and suggestions about the appropriateness of carrying our personal lives through the doors of the...
Mental Health Spotlight: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Patient Well-being
In the last Mental Health Spotlight, I talked about trauma, its neurobiological effects, and how it could potentially influence dental patient management and outcomes....
Mental Health Spotlight: What Dental Professionals Should Know about Trauma
Trauma is a word that gets thrown around in our culture without much investigation into its true meaning or impact. I have heard people...
Mental Health Spotlight: Turning Dental Hygienists’ New Year’s Resolutions into Attainable Goals
Fresh starts are one of life’s gifts that I get a bit giddy over. The new year is a fresh start that leaves me...
Emotional Regulation: How Dental Hygienists Can Cope during Stressful Times
As a society and a profession, we are facing an extremely stressful time. The COVID-19 shelter-in-place restrictions are not only a public health emergency,...
Stressful Times: The Role of Dental Hygienists in Suicide Awareness
Recent world events have created an extremely stressful situation for dental professionals. The cumulative tension of income loss, homeschooling, isolation, lack of essential items,...