LPC, 7 years of experience
Welcome! I'm so glad you are here. Let's take a moment and recognize that you've taken the first step towards improving your mental health, because we both know that therapy can feel daunting, yet hopeful at the same time. My name is Francina and I am here to help you on this journey. I am a licensed professional counselor and I practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. I am a board certified art therapist, certified autism spectrum disorder specialist, and certified clinical trauma professional. As an integrative therapist, I provide a safe and inviting environment that enables clients to confront challenges related to anxiety, depression, self-care, trauma, and more. I am welcoming, non judgmental, accepting, and understanding. My focus is on assisting clients in developing more satisfying, enriching lives, as they become more empowered to gain more freedom in their lives. Therapy can promote what you truly deserve. Someone to hear you, to see you. To believe you. I listen with compassion but I don't just sit there while you talk; rather it is a conversation. If that resonates with you, I'm here whenever you feel ready to take the next step.
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, get a history, then look at specific challenges you're facing. In a casual atmosphere, we'll consider your particular needs and collaborate together on creating your unique goals for therapy. You will not be reduced to a checklist. This is your space to be seen and heard.
Having worked with a variety of ages and symptom clusters, I have developed an understanding of the different needs of various clients. I have years of experience with learning strategies that help others look inward, consider their needs, and make small steps towards change; and sometimes change isn't really all that we need--we need to be seen and validated, believed and heard. I practice these strategies myself to maintain my own mental health so that I can be genuine as a therapist while caring for my own needs.
I work with clients ages 18 to 65. At any age my clients are looking for ways to improve, but don't yet have the tools needed to create the changes they are looking for. They often feel stuck, overwhelmed and anxious and are looking for someone to listen and provide real ways to make the changes they want to see while also being true to themselves. I have experience working with those struggling with depression, anxiety, chronic trauma, panic disorder, life transitions, autism spectrum disorder, women's issues, LGBTQIA+ issues, and more.
9 ratings with written reviews
July 30, 2025
My first session with Francina went very well, I felt better about my situation and after our call I knew she would help get through it and reach my goals.
July 21, 2025
I was having one of the worst days of my life. I showed up for therapy it was my first day with Francina, I spent most of the session in tears but Francina was so warm and kind it really restored my hope in humanity. Francina is a people person she is interested in helping others heal. Francina really helped me today to feel safe in the world.
July 11, 2025
Every session is different since there is a lot of unloading sometimes, but one thing remains a constant - Francina ALWAYS makes me feel heard and most importantly, she makes me feel so comfortable. She is amazing, warm, open minded, non-judgmental, caring, insightful, the list goes on! Francina is the best!
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 strategies for helping you identify and communicate your needs to yourself and others in your life, often using mindfulness and experiential strategies. I teach mindfulness skills to help you get in touch with yourself and stay focused in the present. I introduce ways for you to slow down and focus on you and your needs in the moment. I listen with compassion and help you process your own thoughts and feelings. We look at your past as related to your present and consider parts of self that influence your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. For those who are interested, I introduce ideas for processing your feelings and experiences using art therapy, journaling, metaphor, movement, 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.
Often I teach DBT skills for those whose needs surround interpersonal conflict, high emotional reactivity, and difficulty managing distress, and so we learn to tolerate stress in daily life while holding the space you need to be real and honor your truth. I use DBT loosely in that I recognize its limits, so again, I use an eclectic approach that honors the whole you.
Learning to focus your attention is a skill that can help you calm your system. Focusing on the present, on your senses, on your thoughts and feelings in the moment can not only soothe you, help you accept your feelings, but also give you direction in how you want to attend to those feelings and how you want to live your life.
I use a holistic approach that recognizes the wide-spread impact of trauma. Trauma can have a profound impact on an individual's physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. 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 IFS with other modalities to help you go deeper and work with your trauma.