- Years in practice
- 30
- Credentials
- LICSW
- Licensed in
- Massachusetts
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Family conflicts
About Frances
Frances Higgins is a licensed independent clinical social worker with 30 years of experience. She focuses on practical help for people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strains, parenting pressures, trauma, and related concerns. Frances listens first and then works with each person to find what helps most.
She keeps sessions grounded and straightforward. She uses client-centered work to build trust and understand what matters to the person in front of her.
Background and approach
Frances also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to spot patterns that keep problems going and to try new, concrete behaviors. When trauma or abuse is part of the story, she brings in trauma-informed ideas to support recovery and reduce symptoms. She also uses skills from dialectical behavior therapy when strong emotions or overwhelming stress get in the way of daily life.
These tools are mixed to fit each person's goals, not applied the same way to everyone. Frances has helped people with addiction, grief, eating concerns, parenting challenges, ADHD, compassion fatigue, and issues related to adoption and attachment. She also addresses communication problems, codependency, and the fallout from separation or domestic violence.
She practices in Massachusetts and offers services in English. Frances works collaboratively, helping people clarify goals and try changes that feel doable. The emphasis is on steady progress and practical skills that can be used between sessions.
What Frances works with
Everything Frances lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Frances helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Addictions
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Adoption and foster care
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Jealousy
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Young adult issues
Approaches Frances lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that guide online work
Frances uses attachment-based work to help people understand patterns in close relationships and how those early bonds influence current parenting and intimacy. This approach looks at relationship cycles and helps people try new ways of connecting.She also uses client-centered therapy which focuses on listening, building trust, and following the person's agenda. That makes sessions feel collaborative and responsive to what the client needs in the moment.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is another tool she uses to identify unhelpful thoughts and try small, testable behavior changes. CBT often helps with anxiety, depression, and day-to-day stress by breaking problems into manageable steps.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Frances will help clients weigh options, try different techniques, and adjust based on what is helpful. The process is collaborative and paced to the client's goals and preferences.
Online therapy offers flexibility with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in fits a break at work. Live chat and messaging let people share thoughts between sessions and use written check-ins when that feels most useful.
These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep using skills between sessions while working toward clearer goals.
Questions people ask about Frances
What concerns does Frances commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, addictions, grief, eating concerns, parenting challenges, anger, self-esteem issues, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and compassion fatigue.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is client-centered and collaborative. She listens first and then chooses approaches together that fit each person's needs and goals.
How much experience does she have?
She has 30 years of clinical experience working with a wide range of concerns and backgrounds.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an MA and is a LICSW. Her practice is based in Massachusetts.
In which languages can sessions be held and are international clients supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
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