About me
I use She and They pronouns and am located as white, able-bodied, questioning, cis-gendered, a trauma survivor, a Buddhist, and non-binary/gender-fluid aspiring. I completed my Masters in Clinical Psychology in 2011, and am a Licensed Psychological Associate in North Carolina. In the intervening years I have completed Mindfulness Training for Professionals through Duke Integrative Medicine, 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training, 1 unit of Clinical Pastoral Education, and completed 3 years of training in Somatic Therapy for trauma (to learn more, click here , and/or here). I have also been ordained as a buddhist nun, spent over 400 nights in intensive meditation retreat and currently serve as the Buddhist Chaplain at Duke University. My spiritual practice and what I've learned from it are central to my offerings and way of being with clients.
I work with individuals and specialize in mindfulness-informed psychotherapy and somatic therapy for trauma, and incorporate many tools and modalities into my approach including: inner relationship focusing and attachment theory. I see it as a gift and a blessing to be able to investigate, learn and grow with my clients and to witness their process.
I work with individuals and specialize in mindfulness-informed psychotherapy and somatic therapy for trauma, and incorporate many tools and modalities into my approach including: inner relationship focusing and attachment theory. I see it as a gift and a blessing to be able to investigate, learn and grow with my clients and to witness their process.
What clients have said about me:
"Francesca helped me find some simple, subtle yet profound ways to ground in my body and learn how to embrace what it means to be human, with all its joys and uncertainties."
"Your offering of counseling and our time together has made an immeasurable difference. The soul knows what it wants, but without sustained attention we never know what the soul wants; we wander rather from pain to momentary ease to pain. Thank you for helping soul to speak in me and helping me to give it space and authority, and to learn, a little, to follow its lead."
"Francesca has been an anchor for me through a turbulent time, giving me safe harbor and a rest in calm waters. She showed me how to slow down and experience life’s details — from seeing the colors in my guacamole, to noticing every red and white hair on my precious dog’s head. Francesca helped me look inside, magnifying that voice that was already there, trusting myself and listening to the “data.” My sessions with Francesca help me be more of the person I want to be. I find myself making different — and better — decisions than I would have previously, trusting myself, challenging old paradigms, being brave personally and professionally and making choices that align with my values and goals. All of this is accomplished in a serene, non-judgemental environment with the flexibility to meet for appointments around my busy schedule. Francesca provides practical tools for daily improvement and steady, gentle, guiding encouragement. It has not been a smooth road for me; the path to authenticity is paved with many potholes. But when I stumble, Francesca is there with a gentle nudge to help me get back on track. She is helping me change my life for the better and to recognize the value in myself that others see, that I’m learning has been there all along. I am grateful to have found such a smart, caring and effective therapist. A true professional, with a kind, warm, playful spirit."
"Francesca helped me find some simple, subtle yet profound ways to ground in my body and learn how to embrace what it means to be human, with all its joys and uncertainties."
"Your offering of counseling and our time together has made an immeasurable difference. The soul knows what it wants, but without sustained attention we never know what the soul wants; we wander rather from pain to momentary ease to pain. Thank you for helping soul to speak in me and helping me to give it space and authority, and to learn, a little, to follow its lead."
"Francesca has been an anchor for me through a turbulent time, giving me safe harbor and a rest in calm waters. She showed me how to slow down and experience life’s details — from seeing the colors in my guacamole, to noticing every red and white hair on my precious dog’s head. Francesca helped me look inside, magnifying that voice that was already there, trusting myself and listening to the “data.” My sessions with Francesca help me be more of the person I want to be. I find myself making different — and better — decisions than I would have previously, trusting myself, challenging old paradigms, being brave personally and professionally and making choices that align with my values and goals. All of this is accomplished in a serene, non-judgemental environment with the flexibility to meet for appointments around my busy schedule. Francesca provides practical tools for daily improvement and steady, gentle, guiding encouragement. It has not been a smooth road for me; the path to authenticity is paved with many potholes. But when I stumble, Francesca is there with a gentle nudge to help me get back on track. She is helping me change my life for the better and to recognize the value in myself that others see, that I’m learning has been there all along. I am grateful to have found such a smart, caring and effective therapist. A true professional, with a kind, warm, playful spirit."