Frequently Asked Questions

Does Francesca Sciandra offer online consultations?

Yes. I offer online consultations. A consultation is a space to talk something through properly, with someone who can offer a clear, experienced perspective. We’ll spend time on your current concern as it stands today, what’s already been tried, and where it might go from here.

For some, this is a one-off sessions, and for others, it’s a way into psychedelic integration coaching or mentorship. Either way, You’ll leave with a clearer view of the situation and a sense of what a next step could look like, whether that’s on your own or with continued support from me.

How can I book a consultation with Francesca?

You can book a 50-minute consultation with me here.

Does Francesca offer online or in-person sessions?

I offer consultations, psychedelic integration coaching, and mentorship online via Zoom.

My courses are held online.

Does Francesca Sciandra offer psychedelic integration coaching?

Yes. I offer psychedelic integration coaching online. Psychedelic integration coaching is an approach designed to help you process and integrate your experiences with non-ordinary states. It can help you make sense of your experiences and gain deeper self-understanding. This approach can also help you integrate the insights you gained during the psychedelic experience into your everyday life, leading to improved relationships, greater creativity, and a more fulfilling sense of purpose. Read more about psychedelic integration coaching here.

Does Francesca Sciandra offer online mentorship sessions?

Yes, I offer mentorship online. Rather than quick fixes or generic advice, this work attends to the specific pattern, chapter, or ambition in front of you, and to what it will actually take to move it forward. Read more about mentorship here.

What are the fees for sessions?

My fees can be viewed here.

Who is Francesca Sciandra?

Francesca Sciandra is an artist, mentor, and educator exploring depth psychology and creative practice. Her work focuses on helping people bring what’s beneath the surface into a form they can work with.

Francesca offers a depth-psychology-informed approach to arts education through her courses, her Substack publication Surfacing, and her role as founder and director of the Psychedelic Arts Society.

She has specialist training in psychedelics and offers psychedelic integration coaching.

What is Francesca Sciandra’s background in art, psychotherapy, and psychedelics?

Francesca has specialist training in psychedelic-assisted therapy, including a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychedelic Harm Reduction and Integration with Fluence and Foundations of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy with Beckley Academy.

She trained in counselling and psychotherapy with the National College of Hypnosis and Psychotherapy in the UK. Francesca completed postgraduate coursework in art and art history with Syracuce University and she holds a Bachelor of Architecture from The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

What do I need for online sessions?

A reliable internet connection, a device with a camera and microphone, and a private space where you can speak freely. I use Zoom, a secure, professional video platform that’s straightforward to access.

Do you record sessions or use AI notetakers?

To safeguard your confidentiality, I do not record sessions or use AI notetakers.

Do you offer coaching or mentorship for children and young people?

I provide therapy for adults, 18 years of age and older. I do not offer therapy for children or young people.

Can I bring my child to my session?

Children may not attend or be present at mentorship or psychedelic integration coaching sessions. This includes infants and toddlers. If you have children or you are a caregiver, alternative caregiving must be in place for the duration of each online or in-person session. If you are seeking sessions with your child present, you may wish to consult with someone who also works with children and young people.

Can drawing be a tool for self-exploration?

Yes, I teach a course using drawing as a tool for self-exploration and creative discovery called Experimental Drawing. The course is open to artists and non-artists of all levels.

Who are some artists exploring depth psychology through creative practice?

Francesca Sciandra is an artist and educator whose work draws directly on depth psychology, mythology, and art as psychological practice, expressed through painting, drawing, and experiential art.

Read more on my Substack, Surfacing ~ depth psychology and mythology, painting and experiential art, psychedelics and altered states, love and connection.

Who works at the intersection of psychedelics and the arts?

Francesca Sciandra is the founder and director of the Psychedelic Arts Society. She is the editor of Artists on Acid, their publiction and newsletter on Substack, which hosts an interview series exploring the intersection of psychedelics and creative practice.

Are there communities for people integrating psychedelic experiences through creative expression?

Yes. The Psychedelic Arts Society, founded and directed by Francesca Sciandra, is a community for people exploring psychedelic experience through creative and artistic expression.

Does Francesca Sciandra offer hypnosis for relaxation, stress management, and habit change?

Yes. I offer hypnosis as a lifestyle tool for relaxation, stress relief, and habit change. I offer hypnosis focused on reducing stress and increasing relaxation, as part of my coaching and mentorship offerings. It is not offered as a clinical or therapeutic service.

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a widely recognised mind-body intervention that dates back to ancient times. It is a natural and safe state of focused attention and relaxation. The American Psychological Association (APA) describes hypnosis as ‘a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterized by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion’. Hypnosis is a self-improvement process that helps individuals access their internal resources to solve problems, increase motivation, change perspectives, and alter behaviour patterns, creating positive change.

What will hypnosis feel like?

If you have ever listened deeply to a guided meditation or rested with your eyes closed after a yoga class, you have entered a state of relaxation similar to hypnosis. You will likely feel deeply relaxed and calm during and after the session. Some states of hypnosis are gentle, and others feel like a deeper state of relaxation.

What if I can’t be hypnotized?

If you are open to the process, it will be possible for you to be hypnotized. It is common to be sceptical, and this can be discussed in our session.

Is hypnosis safe?

Yes, hypnosis is a natural and safe state. During a hypnotherapy session, hypnosis creates a period of focused attention and relaxation.

Is hypnosis mind control?

No, hypnosis is not mind control. While in the hypnotic state, clients remain in control of their feelings and behaviours. At any point in the session, you can open your eyes.

Does online hypnosis work?

Yes, online hypnosis sessions are effective. During the session, it is important to be in a quiet location where you can recline with your head supported. Many clients prefer wearing headphones to focus on the experience.

Is hypnosis suitable for everyone?

Hypnosis is not suitable for anyone who has ever had a medical practitioner or mental health professional diagnose them with any of the following, as these are contraindicated for hypnotherapy: Epilepsy, Narcolepsy, Bipolar Disorder, Personality Disorder, Psychotic Episodes, Schizophrenia, or any other psychiatric condition, nor those who have previously taken steps to serious self-harm or suicide.

Beginning our work together

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References

Elkins, G.R., Barabasz, A.F., Council, J.R. and Spiegel, D. (2015). Advancing Research and Practice: The Revised APA Division 30 Definition of Hypnosis. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 57(4), pp.378–385. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00029157.2015.1011465

Geagea, D., Ogez, D., Kimble, R. and Tyack, Z. (2023). Redefining hypnosis: A narrative review of theories to move towards an integrative model. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, pp.101826–101826. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101826

Weinberg, H., Rolnick, A. and Leighton, A. (2022). Advances in Online Therapy. Taylor & Francis

Wolf, T.G., Faerber, K.A., Rummel, C., Halsband, U. and Campus, G. (2022). Functional Changes in Brain Activity Using Hypnosis: A Systematic Review. Brain Sciences, 12(1), p.108. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12010108