Francesca Sciandra

Hello, I’m Francesca, an integrative therapist, psychotherapeutic counsellor, and hypnotherapist. I help my clients heal from anxiety and overcome challenges affecting their relationships.

I offer accepting, open-minded, and culturally sensitive therapy, focusing on anxiety, relationships and sexual issues. I see clients online and in person at my practice room in Bristol, UK.

I grew up in the northeast of the United States and moved to Europe as an adult after studying in Spain. I spent extended periods in Italy and Portugal and have lived in the UK for over a decade. Exploring different cultural attitudes and ways of life has been an important part of my personal development.

My journey into the world of therapy and counselling began with a desire to explore the human experience and help others live better lives. I was curious about our ability to adapt, grow, express ourselves creatively, and reinvent ourselves over time. I wanted to learn tools and methods to support our incredible capacity for transformation and healing.

In addition to offering 1 to 1 sessions with clients, I create resources and write about mental well-being and healing. To find out when I share new blog posts and resources, sign up for my newsletter.

My specialisms

I frequently support clients struggling with anxiety by helping them develop coping strategies, explore the root causes of these challenges, and cultivate a sense of calm and greater self-acceptance.

Interpersonal challenges and relationship difficulties are common concerns that I see in my practice. This includes understanding and overcoming unhealthy attachment patterns, such as anxious, avoidant, or disorganised attachment styles.

I offer a non-judgmental space to explore sexual issues, including sexual shame and sexual difficulties.

For those who have experienced childhood abuse and neglect or other forms of developmental trauma, I provide a safe and supportive environment to process and heal from these challenging experiences.

I have experience helping my clients explore and resolve depression, low self-confidence, loneliness, anger, and sleep problems.

Additionally, I support processing and integrating psychedelic experiences and non-ordinary states of consciousness.

What therapy looks like with me

Early in my career, I realised that a one-size-fits-all approach to therapy wasn’t sufficient for addressing individuals’ complex and unique challenges. This realisation led me to pursue an integrative and pluralistic path that blends multiple therapeutic modalities.

My approach is integrative, which means I draw from various methods and frameworks to support your exploration and change. I use a person-centred approach, which allows our work to focus on what’s most important to you. I am trained in and practice humanistic counselling, psychodynamic therapy, hypnotherapy, somatic methods, mindfulness approaches, and inner child work.

I help with various issues and tailor therapy to my clients’ needs. You can ask me anytime if you have any questions about our process together.

Sessions typically happen weekly at a set time that works for both of us. I offer daytime and evening availability.

The keys to successful therapy

Research consistently shows that a key factor in successful therapy is the quality and depth of the relationship that develops between the client and the therapist. Studies have also shown that it’s important for the therapist to adapt to the client’s preferences, characteristics, and culture.

I will always do my best to understand you, your experiences, and your challenges without making any assumptions or judgements.

Supervision

To support the development of other practitioners, I provide one-to-one and group supervision for hypnotherapists. I’m a registered acknowledged supervisor with the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), and I offer supervision for trainees, those newly-registered, and experienced hypnotherapists.

Ethics and standards of care

My practice follows the codes of ethics and standards of practice of the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC) and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). I receive ongoing supervision from a UKCP-registered supervisor.

Registrations & Memberships

• Registered Hypnotherapist & Acknowledged Supervisor, General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR)

• Associate Member, The National Society of Talking Therapies (NSTT)

• International Affiliate, Society for Humanistic Psychology, American Psychological Association (APA), Division 32

Primary Qualifications

• Diploma in Hypno-Psychotherapeutic Counselling, The National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy

• Diploma in Analytical Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, Jacquelyne Morison Hypnotherapy Training — accredited by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC) and Accredited Counsellors, Coaches, Psychotherapists and Hypnotherapists (ACCPH)

• Diploma in Mindfulness Life Coaching, The Centre for Mindfulness — accredited by the International Authority for Coaching and Mentoring (IAPC&M)

Additional Training & Certifications

• Certificate in Hypnotherapy Supervision, Yorkshire Hypnotherapy Training — approved by the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC)

• Certificate in Trauma Informed Practice, Holistic Trauma Course, The Weekend University

• Certificate in Online Therapy, The National College of Hypnosis & Psychotherapy

• Foundations of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Beckley Academy

• Working Safely and Effectively with Parts with David Corr, The National College of Hypnosis & Psychotherapy

• Dreaming on Purpose with Luigi Sciambarella, The National College of Hypnosis & Psychotherapy

• Postgraduate Summer Program, Visual Art and Art History of Catalunya, Syracuse University, Barcelona

Continuing Professional Development

To support my ongoing learning, I regularly attend continuing education courses and programs, including:

• The Psychology of Erotic Fantasies and Behaviours with Professor Brett Kahr, TR Together

• Unveiling the Mind: Convergence of Hypnotic and Psychedelic Realities, The Netherlands Society for Hypnosis

• Pelvic Health and Sexual Function, Contemporary Institute of Clinical Sexology

• Identifying and Disrupting Financial Shame, Trauma of Money

• Unpacking Complex Trauma, UK Trauma Council

• Freud and Jung on Dreams with Keith Barrett, Freud Museum London

• Clinical Hypnosis in the Treatment of Anxiety Disorders with David B. Reid, PsyD, The Chicago School

• Psychoanalysis after Freud: Donald Winnicott and ‘Playing and Reality’ with Keith Barrett, Freud Museum London

• Re-thinking Depression: Insights Emerging from Hard Times with Michael Yapko, Ph.D., The Chicago School

• Trauma, Dissociation and the Body with Dr. Pat Ogden, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute

• Introduction to Liberation Psychologies for Social Justice with Sylwia Korsak, Therapy and Social Change Seminar

• Psychedelics and the Mind, University of California, Berkeley, edX

• How Trauma Shapes our Attachment Style with Dr Diane Poole Heller

• Trust in your Self with Internal Family Systems (IFS) with Dr Richard Schwartz

• Childhood Adversity: The Impact of Childhood Maltreatment on Mental Health, University College London

• Too Much of Nothing: The Quiet Trauma of Neglect with Ruth Cohn MFT

• Political Movements and Decentering Privilege with Dr Orna Guralnik, Therapy and Social Change Seminar

• Working at Relational Depth in Psychotherapy with Mick Cooper

• Holistic Psychotherapy Summit, Weekend University

• The Still Point with Kim Gillingham & Meeting the Dream, Creative Dreamwork

• Therapeutic Arts for Helping Professionals, Arts in Health Institute

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Palouse Mindfulness

Get in touch

Book a consultation or contact me to get started.

Learn more about how I can help, sign up for my newsletter, or contact me.

References

Ardito, R.B. and Rabellino, D. (2011). Therapeutic Alliance and Outcome of Psychotherapy: Historical Excursus, Measurements, and Prospects for Research. Frontiers in Psychology, [online] 2(270). doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00270.

Li, E., Kealy, D., Katie Aafjes-van Doorn, McCollum, J., Curtis, J.T., Luo, X. and Silberschatz, G. (2024). ‘It Felt Like I Was Being Tailored to the Treatment Rather Than the Treatment Being Tailored to Me’: Patient Experiences of Helpful and Unhelpful Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy research, pp.1–15. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2024.2360448.

Norcross, J.C. and Wampold, B.E. (2019). Psychotherapy relationships that work. Volume 2, Evidence-based therapist responsiveness. New York: Oxford University Press.

Wilcox, H. and Almasifard, S. (2022). Facilitating the client’s experience of relational depth in counselling and psychotherapy: A thematic review. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 23(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12595.