Licensed to practice in 2 states and accepts 33 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
(she/they)
Traditional talk therapy isn't always enough for anxiety, depression, or for a brain and body shaped by trauma or neurodivergence. I’m FranCina, a licensed professional therapist in NJ and PA. I'm also a Board Board Certified Registered Art Therapist SM (ATR-BC®) in PA;. My experience as a yoga therapist provides holistic avenues to manage nervous system, mind, body, and breath responses, as related to your environment, creating more opportunities for choice. It takes courage to seek therapy, and I myself desire therapy to be a safe space. As witness to your experience, I can hold that space. I don’t just sit and nod; our sessions are an active, compassionate conversation. Whether we are talking, drawing the sun, or observing our feeling, my goal is to help you move from 'just surviving' to experience more in control or empowered. If you’re tired of feeling stuck and want a therapist who 'gets' the complexity of your experience, I’m here when you’re ready.
In our first session, we'll gather information related to your experiences. We’ll start by mapping out where you are feeling 'stuck'—whether that’s in your thoughts, your emotions, or your physical body and begin to consider a path that works for you. Because I use a systems approach, I don't just ask 'how was your week?' We will begin identifying the specific triggers and patterns that affect you. We will look at how this impacts your nervous system, and other systems, like your work, routine, or relationships. You can expect a warm conversation rather than a check list. I hold a Trauma-informed space that is invitational. You’ll leave our first meeting with a sense of how we could work together moving forward.
My approach is integrative, trauma-informed, and highly personalized. I believe that because we live in both the mind and the body, therapy should address both. I utilize a blend of: Narrative Therapy: We deconstruct to reconstruct our lives, working with what we've got, we create our lives one moment at at time. Sometimes words are not enough and we need effective ways to regulate our nervous systems and find safety in our bodies. Acceptance and change strategies, balancing black-and-white thinking using mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation strategoes help create conditions for peace while gently moving toward growth. CCTP-II Strategies: To address complex trauma and PTSD with evidence-based care. Neuro-Affirming Care: That honors your unique processing style and complex experiences. Systems Approach to therapy: Body, Breath and Mind connection. Related to broader external systems that influence us and choices in our environment. Whether we are listening, expressing, or contemplating our story, my focus is on building self-awareness and empowering you to make choices that align with you. If you are looking for a therapist who is welcoming, accepting, and can hold your space iin whatever you are experiencing,, let's connect, talk and consider ways we can build from there.
I am best positioned to serve adults experiencing depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, mood and emotion regulation issues, and those navigating the complex intersection of trauma and neurodivergence (Autism/ADHD). My ideal clients are often 'high achievers' or creative souls who feel deeply disconnected from their bodies or overwhelmed by a world that wasn't built for them. They may struggle with: complex trauma (C-PTSD), feeling constantly 'on guard' or shut down, or angry or reactive. They may experience sensory overwhelm or executive functioning challenges trying to navigate life with a neurodivergent brain. Emotions may come with chronic tension, fatigue, or 'feeling stuck' in a stress response. I serve those who are looking for more than just a listener; they want a specialist who integrates tools to help them find genuine safety and empowerment in their own skin.
Cash - $150 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Arlo
AvMed
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Geisinger - Commercial
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
UPMC Health Plan
I use an integrative approach where you and collaborate to focus on your needs with mindfulness, somatic, and narrative strategies to help you. I introduce ways for you to slow down and focus on your needs in the moment. I listen with compassion and help you process your own thoughts and feelings, listen to your stories,. We look at your past as related to your present and consider parts of self that influence your thoughts, emotions, and choices. Together, we explore ideas for building your life. I always provide choice as I am trauma informed and respect your need for choice in therapy and out there in the world.
Recognizing that we can experience two different feelings at once. Validating self and others. Learning to focus your attention to reduce overwhelm and stress. Finding ways to distract or regulate our moods when we feel out of control. Communicating to someone important to us how we feel or what we need. These are skills that can help you calm your system and live life with more intention and in a way that feels more worth living. Focusing on the present, on your senses, and external environment can help us get out of our heads. Focusing on your thoughts and feelings in the moment can help us understand and accept ourselves, and make choices that align with our values. My goal is to help you accept and honor your experiences to find direction and intention in your daily life. Distress tolerance, emotion, regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness, among other Acceptance and Change strategies are integrated into the natural flow of therapy, and can bridge the gap when we know the "rules" of how to live. Some find this reassuring as well as a way to increase confidence in navigating our many roles and as related to self.
I use a holistic approach that recognizes the wide-spread impact of trauma and its effect on so many aspects of our lives. Trauma can have a profound impact on an individual's physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being and is compounded by anxiety, depression, neuro-diversity, and external environments. I shift the focus from "what's wrong with you?" to "what happened to you?," acknowledging the complex experiences that you may have faced, and using strategies that promote your healing and well-being. I create a safe space for you to explore your emotions, thoughts, feelings, sensations, urges, and anything else that comes up. For those who want to go deeper, Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy views the mind as a multi-part system, like a family, where different parts each have their own roles, emotions, and intentions. IFS therapy helps you understand and integrate these parts, fostering internal harmony and healing, rather than suppressing or eliminating them. By developing self-awareness and self-compassion, you can learn to lead your parts with understanding, leading to improved mental health and personal growth. While I integrate various approaches to working with people with trauma, I provide space to integrate parts of self for a more holistic approach. Narrative therapy helps us find ways of looking, deconstructing, and reconstructing as we build and create the story we want to see. A systems framework lets you see the problem is not you, and we can design ways to recreate more satifying systems, working with what we've got, and learning along the way.
I use an integrative approach to therapy where you and I collaborate together on focusing on your unique needs. I work with you to learn acceptance and change strategies like DBT to help see what you are working with and focus on your goals. Using mindfulness strategies to help you get in touch with yourself and stay focused in the present, we may focus on body, breath, thinking brain, deeper wisdom body, or experience a flow state or joy and connection to self and others. I introduce ways for you to slow down and focus on your needs in the moment. I listen with compassion and help you process your own thoughts and feelings as related to your sensations and how to work with your system, not against it. We look at your past as related to your present and consider parts of self that influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, as well as body, breath, and spirit. I introduce ideas for processing your feelings and experiences using nature, creativity, journaling, metaphor, movement, breathing, designing and experiencing your own safe space, and other forms of expression. I always provide choice as I am trauma informed and respect your need for choice in therapy and out there in the world.
15 ratings with written reviews
January 9, 2026
I feel extremely lucky to have found you as my therapist. Every time we have a session I always end up feeling great. Our session always feel safe and easy. The tools that I learn during our sessions have made a great impact in my life, Although I’m still in the beginning of my healing and understanding journey I can confidently say that it feels great knowing I have Francina at my side.
December 2, 2025
Francina is wonderful! I just had my first session and am very much looking forward to the next. She is warm, authentic, kind, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to speak to. I feel like I've known her for years. I'm excited to be on this journey and have someone like Francina in my corner :)
November 5, 2025
Francina is an amazing therapist! She's warm, inviting, and truly makes you feel heard and understood. She offers compassionate and realistic guidance and I always leave my sessions feeling supported, grounded, and clearheaded. I cannot recommend her enough!!