About Frances
Frances McNamara is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 15 years of clinical experience. She brings steady, practical care to people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and major life transitions. She has worked across a wide range of concerns from ADHD and mood disorders to bipolar disorder and personality disorders.
Her background includes supporting people through grief, anger, low self-esteem, panic attacks, phobias, and post-traumatic stress.
How Frances works
She also helps those coping with compassion fatigue and seasonal mood changes. Her style is direct and present. Sessions focus on what matters now and on small steps that can make daily life easier.
She creates space for people to say what’s hard and to name what’s working. Frances blends several approaches. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people challenge unhelpful thoughts.
She draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to listen deeply and build emotional understanding. People can expect a collaborative relationship where goals are practical and concrete.
Frances aims to walk alongside each person as they work toward clearer thinking, steadier mood, and better coping in everyday life.
Frances lists 11 ways of working on the entry:
What Frances works with
The areas below are the ones Frances selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Grief
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Trauma and abuse
Training and background
| Register | LPC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 15 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Pennsylvania |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
How Frances Uses Therapeutic Methods Online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take values-based steps even when thoughts or feelings are difficult. It can be useful for stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying practical exercises to shift them; it is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood concerns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers concrete skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to help manage intense feelings and reduce impulsive reactions.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Frances will talk with each person about goals, symptoms, and preferences, then suggest methods that fit. That plan can change over time as needs evolve, with the therapist and client deciding together which tools to use.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video lets people use visual cues and longer session work. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief touchpoints, skill practice, or when written reflection helps. These options make therapy easier to fit around work, caregiving, or travel while keeping the focus on practical progress.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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