Hi! I'm a Licensed Mental Health Counselor based in Florida, with a Master's degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University and 10 years of experience. I help high performing professional adults, age 25 and older, navigate high functioning anxiety, depression, emotional eating, career challenges, burnout from career, caregiving and life, relationship issues like infidelity, communication issues, conflict resolution, life transitions, and burnout, focusing on building understanding, connection, and intimacy. I also assist with betrayal trauma, breakup recovery, and attachment patterns.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having been a psychotherapist for the past 10 years, my greatest strengths lie in my ability to help clients identify the root causes of their challenges and create tailored plans that lead to measurable progress. I excel at fostering a safe, supportive environment where clients feel heard and understood. By offering practical, evidence-based strategies, I help clients overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. My down-to-earth, collaborative approach empowers clients to gain clarity, build confidence, and make lasting changes. My prior experience in a Fortune 500 company gives me a unique perspective on high-pressure, demanding environments, allowing me to better understand and support professionals navigating similar stressors. These strengths enable me to adapt to a wide range of client needs and provide compassionate, results-oriented care.
About Connie Francis
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have been using CBT in clinical practice for over 10 years. I have been trained and have a certificate in CBT. I have been trained and hold a certification in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a highly evidence-based therapeutic approach. My training included coursework focusing on addressing cognitive distortions, developing coping skills, and creating personalized interventions for a variety of mental health concerns. "I utilize CBT to help clients identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that influence their emotions and behaviors. For example, with clients experiencing depression, I often use behavioral activation to help them engage in activities that improve mood and self-esteem. In anxiety treatment, I incorporate techniques like thought reframing and exposure therapy to reduce avoidance behaviors and build resilience. Mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma informed CBT are also used in my treatment planning.
Couples Counseling
I specialize in couples therapy, with training as a Level 2 Gottman Couples Therapist and certification in as leader in the 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work Workshop. My practice offers tailored options such as couples intensives, marathon sessions, and traditional therapy formats. I guide couples through various challenges by employing evidence-based interventions aimed at enhancing relationship satisfaction and resilience. How I Use Couples Counseling in Practice 1. Infidelity Recovery: Facilitate trust-building and open communication using structured exercises that address betrayal and foster healing. 2. Conflict Resolution: Teach conflict management strategies focused on understanding needs and de-escalating defensiveness. 3. Addiction and Workaholism: Support couples in addressing the impact of these challenges with empathy, fostering recovery and balance. 4. Eating Disorders: Navigate the emotional complexities of eating disorders by fostering compassion and effective communication between partners. 5. Emotional and Physical Intimacy: Help couples reconnect and rebuild trust through vulnerability and shared experiences. 6. Communication Skills: Empower couples to listen actively, express needs clearly, and validate each other to reduce conflict and deepen their bond. 7. Discernment Counseling: Provide clarity for couples considering separation through structured exploration of their options. 8. Uncoupling Support: Assist couples in separating amicably, with a focus on respect and smooth transitions, especially when co-parenting or shared assets are involved. 9. Premarital Counseling: Equip couples with foundational skills for a strong and lasting partnership. My goal is to empower couples to navigate their challenges with insight and skill, whether they are strengthening their relationship, rebuilding after crises, or transitioning into new life stages.
Gottman method
Treatment Method: Gottman Method Couples Therapy Experience and Application in Practice The Gottman Method Couples Therapy is a research-based approach designed to improve relationship satisfaction through practical skills and strategies. With Level 2-training in the Gottman method and certification in Leading the The 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work workshop, I use the foundational principles of this model to help couples navigate a variety of challenges. In my practice, I offer tailored options, including traditional therapy sessions, couples intensives weekend and marathon sessions, to meet the unique needs of each relationship. By integrating evidence-based interventions, I aim to enhance resilience and satisfaction within partnerships. Key components of the Gottman Method I utilize include: • Building Trust and Commitment: Helping partners create a secure foundation by deepening emotional connections and fostering mutual respect. • Improving Communication: Teaching couples to communicate effectively through active listening, validation, and softened start-ups to reduce conflict. • Managing Conflict: Supporting couples in navigating perpetual and solvable problems with strategies that focus on understanding underlying needs. • Strengthening Friendship: Encouraging the development of positive interactions, shared meaning, and daily rituals to reinforce emotional intimacy. • Repairing and Reconnecting: Guiding couples through evidence-based exercises to rebuild trust and restore closeness after relational ruptures. By applying these principles, I empower couples to strengthen their bond, navigate challenges with confidence, and build a lasting partnership rooted in mutual understanding and respect.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I have been trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) since 2014 and have extensive experience in both clinical and administrative capacities. As the program director of an adolescent treatment center, I oversaw a fully DBT-based program, ensuring that all staff members were trained in DBT skills. This approach allowed for consistent reinforcement of these skills across all interactions, fostering a supportive environment for adolescent clients. In my clinical practice, I have worked with a diverse population of adults and adolescents facing challenges such as: • Suicidal ideation • Borderline Personality Disorder • Addiction and co-occurring disorders • Eating disorders I have led DBT skills groups and integrate the core components of DBT—mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness—into both group and individual treatment planning. These evidence-based strategies are tailored to meet the unique needs of each client, helping them build resilience, improve emotional regulation, and enhance their quality of life.