Frances McNamara

Frances McNamara is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 15 years of clinical experience. She has worked across a wide range of concerns from anxiety and depression to addiction and bipolar disorder. Frances aims to create a respectful, down-to-earth space where people can bring the real struggles in their lives and be heard.

She uses practical, evidence-informed approaches including cognitive and dialectical methods, client-centered work, and emotion-focused strategies. Sessions are focused on what matters most to the person in front of her, whether that is managing strong emotions, coping with loss, or handling life changes.

Frances emphasizes collaboration. She gives space for people to process what feels urgent and to name both barriers and strengths. Her style is present and authentic, and she tries to keep conversation clear and straightforward so clients can use what they learn between sessions.

Over her career she has supported people dealing with trauma and abuse, grief, compassion fatigue, ADHD, panic and mood disorders. She also helps people address anger and problems that affect work or relationships by teaching coping skills and new ways of responding.

If someone is ready to start, Frances asks them to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on availability. She practices in Pennsylvania and conducts work in English.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice their thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then commit to actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, mood struggles, and problems that come up when life shifts. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, panic, and depression. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) brings together skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to help with intense emotions and crisis moments.

Choosing the right approach is part of the collaborative process. Frances will work with each person to match methods to their goals, preferences, and current needs. That means trying a skill, checking how it fits, and adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Session formats are not listed here, so confirm available options when booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for flexible scheduling such as brief check-ins or longer weekly sessions. These practical benefits help people use therapy regularly and apply new skills between meetings.