Francesca Polini, BACP
Francesca Polini offers an approachable, attachment-informed way of working.
- Stress & Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and Abuse
- +3 more
About Francesca
Francesca Polini offers an approachable, attachment-informed way of working. She draws on client-centred practice and psychodynamic ideas to help people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and low self-esteem. Francesca speaks English and Italian and has five years of clinical experience in the United Kingdom.
Her sessions aim to be warm and straightforward. She listens for patterns in how people relate to themselves and others, and helps them notice feelings and responses that feel stuck.
Background and approach
Conversations are practical and reflective, with space to name painful memories and current stresses. Francesca uses attachment-based thinking to look at how early relationships influence today's trusting, closeness and boundaries. She also brings psychodynamic and Jungian ideas to help people make sense of recurring themes and emotional patterns.
Hypnotherapy may be offered as a complementary tool when it fits the person's needs. People contact Francesca about many concerns beyond the most common problems. These include issues around abandonment, adoption and foster care, attachment difficulties, body image, chronic illness, caregiver stress, and aspects of sexual identity and kink culture.
She also supports those facing cancer, aging concerns, and complicated communication or commitment problems. Her style balances practical coping strategies with deeper exploration. Sessions can focus on short-term relief or on longer work to change long-standing patterns.
Francesca aims to match the pace to each person's comfort and practical life demands.
Registration
| Body | Registration number | Expires |
|---|---|---|
| BACP | 412396 | March 2026 |
Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.
Sessions and payment
Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.
Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.
Focus areas and approaches
What Francesca works with
Everything Francesca lists, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counselling
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Francesca lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centred Therapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor names and does not check training records.
Online support
She also uses psychodynamic and Jungian ideas to help people make sense of recurring themes, dreams and emotional patterns. These methods aim to bring hidden influences into view so people can choose different responses rather than repeat the same cycle.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Francesca will discuss options and collaborate with each person to choose what fits their needs and goals. That might mean focusing on practical coping skills first, then moving to deeper exploration as trust grows.
Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls suit longer conversational work and visual connection. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and messaging offer flexibility for quick reflections or when fitting therapy around a busy schedule. These formats make it simpler to access therapy across locations, including international clients, while keeping choices tailored to how each person prefers to engage.
Frequently asked
What kinds of problems does Francesca help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem and depression. She also addresses concerns such as abandonment, adoption and foster care, body image, chronic illness and caregiver stress.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is client-centred and reflective, combining attachment-based ideas with psychodynamic and Jungian perspectives. Sessions mix practical coping strategies with deeper exploration of repeating emotional patterns.
What experience does she have?
She has five years of clinical experience working in the United Kingdom and brings international life experience and multilingual skills to her practice.
Where is Francesca based and what credential does she hold?
She practises in the United Kingdom and is registered with the BACP, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Italian to support speakers of either language.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and circumstances.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are delivered through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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