Who We Are
Welcome to The Intimate Pause, founded by Candace Thompson Gaeta
Candace Gaeta is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with nearly two decades of experience and a passion for helping individuals and couples navigate relationships, intimacy, sexuality, and emotional well-being. Throughout her career, Candace has recognized how often shame, societal expectations, and fear of judgment prevent people from openly exploring some of the most personal aspects of their lives. She believes that conversations surrounding sex, desire, identity, vulnerability, and relationships deserve to be met with curiosity, compassion, and understanding rather than embarrassment or stigma.
As a sex-positive and LGBTQIA+ affirming therapist, Candace is passionate about challenging shame, normalizing conversations that are too often avoided, and creating an environment where people feel comfortable showing up as their authentic selves. Known for her warm, direct, and engaging approach, she believes therapy should feel like a genuine human connection rather than a clinical exchange. Her vision for The Intimate Pause is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves the freedom to explore their needs, desires, boundaries, and relationships without judgment, recognizing that intimacy, connection, and fulfillment look different for everyone.
Why The Intimate Pause?
The Intimate Pause was founded on the belief that meaningful connection begins with understanding ourselves and creating space for the conversations that matter most.
Intimate represents more than physical intimacy. It encompasses emotional vulnerability, trust, sexuality, identity, relationships, and the deeply personal experiences that shape how people connect with themselves and others.
Pause represents the opportunity to slow down, reflect, challenge familiar patterns, and become more intentional about personal needs, desires, boundaries, and relationships.
Together, these concepts reflect the philosophy behind The Intimate Pause: a space where individuals and couples can explore life’s most personal experiences with curiosity, compassion, and without judgment.
The Vision Behind The Intimate Pause
The Intimate Pause was created to offer a modern, inclusive, and sex-positive approach to mental health care.
Grounded in the belief that every individual deserves to feel seen, respected, and understood, the practice embraces diversity in all its forms, including cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, relationship structures, neurodiversity, and personal experiences.
Candace envisions The Intimate Pause growing into a collaborative practice that brings together clinicians with diverse specialties, perspectives, and therapeutic approaches while maintaining a shared commitment to compassionate, authentic, and affirming care.
Whether someone is navigating relationship challenges, exploring their sexuality, healing from trauma, managing anxiety, or seeking a deeper understanding of themselves, The Intimate Pause offers a space to explore those experiences openly.
Because intimacy is personal. Connection looks different for everyone. And there is no one right way to be yourself.
Whether you are a client looking to start your therapy journey, or a clinician looking to join a welcoming and encouraging group practice, we hope you find space and acceptance here.