Francesca Sciandra

Integrative Therapist, Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Hypnotherapist, and Couples Therapist

Hello, I’m Francesca, an integrative therapist offering accepting, open-minded, and culturally sensitive therapy in Bristol and online. I work with individuals and couples who are ready to create meaningful change in their lives.

My journey into therapy and counselling began with a deep curiosity about the human experience, particularly our ability to overcome challenges, heal from trauma, and navigate significant life transitions. I’m continually fascinated by our capacity for transformation and wanted to learn approaches that could genuinely support people on this journey. This led me to explore various therapeutic modalities, from understanding how our early attachment patterns shape us to working with the different parts of ourselves. Through this exploration, I’ve developed an integrative practice that honours the many different pathways people can take toward healing and growth.

I grew up in the northeastern United States before completing graduate studies in Spain. I then spent time in Italy and Portugal before settling in the UK over a decade ago. These experiences of adapting to different cultures and ways of life have deepened my understanding of identity, belonging, and how we all navigate relationships and personal growth. This multicultural perspective enables me to appreciate and connect with the diverse backgrounds and experiences that my clients bring to our work together.

In addition to providing therapy, I enjoy creating resources and writing about relationships, intimacy, and emotional well-being. Sign up for my newsletter to receive new blog posts and resources as I share them.

My specialisms

I frequently help clients explore and overcome relationship difficulties and interpersonal challenges. This includes understanding and overcoming unhealthy attachment patterns, such as anxious, avoidant, or disorganised attachment styles. I create 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 often work with 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. Many clients also seek my support for depression, low self-confidence, loneliness, anger, and sleep problems. I help them understand these experiences and develop new ways of relating to themselves and others.

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 a 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 me to meet you in your direct experience of life and to focus on what’s most important to you. My training has included humanistic therapy, psychodynamic therapy, parts therapy, hypnotherapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT), and inner child work.

I most frequently work with clients on a long-term, open-ended basis, tailoring my approach to meet their specific needs. When you are ready to begin therapy, sessions will happen weekly at a set time that works for both of us. You can ask me anytime if you have any questions about our process together.

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 show that therapy is most effective when clients commit to consistent sessions.

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 judgments.

Supervision

To support the development of other practitioners, I provide one-to-one and group supervision for hypnotherapists. I’m an 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 United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council (GHSC). I receive ongoing supervision from a UKCP-registered supervisor.

Registrations & Memberships

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

  • UKCP Trainee Psychotherapist, UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)

  • 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

Additional Training & Certifications

  • Professional Certificate in Couples Therapy, Institute of Couples Therapy

  • Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFCT) Certificate, PESI

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

  • Foundations of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Beckley Academy

  • Certificate in Hypnotherapy Supervision, Yorkshire Hypnotherapy Training

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

Continuing Professional Development

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

  • The Somatic Processing of Pre-Verbal Trauma In Psychedelic Assisted Therapy, Rob Ó Cobhthaigh, Embody Lab

  • Healing Emotional Neglect: Trauma-Informed Somatic Tools for Co-Regulation and Repair in Psychedelic Sessions with Atira Tan, Embody Lab

  • The Future of Psychedelic Therapy with Richard Schwartz, Rick Doblin, and Scott Lyons, Embody Lab

  • Intimacy From the Inside Out, IFS Institute

  • Financial Therapy Master Series, Financial Therapy Clinical Institute

  • Self-Led Sexuality through Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: A Parts Work Approach for Healing, Intimacy, Pleasure and Connection with Patricia Rich

  • A Psychoanalytic Understanding of the Couple Relationship with Mary Morgan, TR Together

  • The Presence of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapist with Nancy Sowell

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

  • Integrating Psychedelic Experiences, Centre of Applied Jungian Studies

  • Working Effectively with Parts, The National College of Hypnosis & Psychotherapy

  • Dreaming on Purpose: Exploring the Inner Landscapes Through Psychotherapeutic Dreamwork, The National College of Hypnosis & Psychotherapy

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) and Psychedelic Therapy, Psychedelic Support

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

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

  • The Role of Spirituality and Meaning-Making in Recovery with Guy du Plessis

  • Internal Family Systems (IFS) for Addictive Processes with Cece Sykes

  • Harm Reduction: A Foundation for Addiction Treatment with Andrew Tatarsky

  • 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, PhD, 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

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

Get in touch

Book a consultation or contact me to get started.

Book your consultation here
 

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.

Tiemens, B., Kloos, M., Spijker, J. and de Jonge, P. (2019). Lower versus higher frequency of sessions in starting outpatient mental health care and the risk of a chronic course; a naturalistic cohort study, BMC Psychiatry, 19(1), p. 228. doi:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2214-4.

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.