Director of Psychiatric Services
Dr. Candie Wellwood
DNP, PMHNP | USAF Staff Sergeant (ret.)
Veteran. Psychiatric nurse practitioner. Specialist in PTSD, depression, and mood disorders. As someone who has served, Dr. Candie Wellwood understands firsthand the unique challenges our service members face — and has built her career around helping them carry less of that weight.
● VA Preferred Provider ● USAF Veteran ● Telehealth Available
About Dr. Candie Wellwood
Care That Comes From Experience
Dr. Candie Wellwood is a Doctor of Nursing Practice and Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner who brings a rare combination of military service and advanced psychiatric expertise to her work. As a retired USAF Staff Sergeant, she has lived the experiences that many of her patients are navigating — and that understanding shapes every aspect of her clinical approach.
Her military background makes her particularly effective in treating PTSD and depression among veterans and first responders, a population whose needs are too often misunderstood by providers who have not shared their experiences. Under her leadership, the Essential Health Group mental health team delivers cutting-edge treatments alongside compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care — offering genuine hope and healing to those who need it most.
Credentials & Background
✓ Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
✓ Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
✓ Retired USAF Staff Sergeant
✓ VA Preferred Provider — Depression & Mental Health
✓ Specialist in PTSD & Trauma-Informed Care
✓ TMS Therapy Provider
✓ In-Person & Telehealth Appointments
Psychiatric services
What Dr. Candie Wellwood Treats
Under Dr. Candie Wellwood’s leadership, the Essential Health Group psychiatric team provides a full range of mental health services — from initial assessment and medication management through to the most advanced treatment options currently available. Every patient receives a personalised care plan built around their specific diagnosis, history, and goals.
PTSD & Trauma
Dr. Candie Wellwood specialises in PTSD treatment for veterans, first responders, and civilians. As a veteran herself, she brings an understanding of military culture and trauma that is rare in civilian psychiatric practice. Treatment options include medication management, counselling, and TMS therapy — coordinated into a single unified plan.
Depression & Mood Disorders
From major depressive disorder to bipolar depression and treatment-resistant depression, our psychiatric team offers evidence-based care combined with the most advanced interventions available. We are a VA preferred provider for depression and we work with VA insurance for eligible veterans with treatment-resistant depression — all you need is a referral.
Anxiety & ADHD
Anxiety disorders, generalised anxiety, panic disorder, and ADHD are all within our scope of care. Dr. Candie Wellwood takes a whole-person approach to mental health — looking at the relationship between physical health, lifestyle, and psychological wellbeing to ensure that nothing is missed in your assessment and care plan.
TMS Therapy
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive, FDA-approved therapy for depression that has not responded to medication. It delivers painless magnetic pulses to the areas of the brain that regulate mood, stimulating nerve cells and reducing symptoms of depression. Covered by most insurances including TriCare, Medicare, Medicaid, and major medical plans.
Telehealth Psychiatry
Not everyone can make it to Medical Lake in person — and for many people, the barrier to accessing psychiatric care is logistical, not motivational. Our telehealth psychiatric services bring Dr. Candie Wellwood’s expertise directly to you, wherever you are in the Spokane area, from the privacy and comfort of your own home.
Dr. Candie Wellwood’s philosophy
Care Built on Lived Experience
Having served in the United States Air Force, Dr. Candie Wellwood brings a level of understanding to her work that cannot be taught in a classroom. She knows what it means to carry the weight of service — and she has dedicated her psychiatric career to helping others set some of that weight down.
Her approach is compassionate, evidence-based, and deeply personalised. She works closely with each patient to understand not just their diagnosis, but their history, their culture, and their goals — building a treatment plan that is as individual as they are. As part of Essential Health Group’s integrated team, her patients also benefit from the connection between mental and physical health that our whole-person model makes possible.
Conditions Dr. Candie Wellwood treats
✓ PTSD — veterans, first responders & civilians
✓ Major Depressive Disorder
✓ Treatment-Resistant Depression
✓ Bipolar Depression
✓ Anxiety & Panic Disorder
✓ ADHD
✓ Grief & Bereavement
✓ Medication Management
“As a veteran herself, Candie understands firsthand the unique challenges our service members face. Her military background and extensive psychiatric expertise make her particularly effective in treating PTSD and depression among veterans and first responders.”
Serving Those Who Served Us
Dr. Candie Wellwood and the Essential Health Group psychiatric team understand the weight that veterans and first responders carry. We are a VA preferred provider for depression and mental health services, and we accept VA referrals for depression and TMS therapy. All you need is a referral — we handle the rest.
Ready to Take the First Step?
Whether you’re a veteran seeking PTSD support, someone struggling with depression that hasn’t responded to medication, or simply looking for compassionate, expert psychiatric care — Dr. Candie Wellwood and her team are here for you. In-person and telehealth appointments available.
Medical Lake, WA · (509) 299-6900 · Telehealth Available