About
Francesca Cottone, M.ED, LCPC
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Who I Work With
*Accepting New Clients- Daytime & Evening*
Children (6+), Young Adolescents (11-14), Middle Adolescents (15-17), College Students (18-22), Young Adults, Adults, Women, Men, Couples, Families
Specialties
Anxiety, Anxiety related disorders (Social Anxiety, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias), Health Anxiety, Emetophobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Depression, Relational Difficulties, Body Dysmorphic Disorder,
Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (skin picking, hair pulling, nail biting, etc), Depression, Chronic Illness + Chronic Pain, GI Related Health Conditions, Trauma + PTSD, Life Transitions (school, friendship, career, family)
About Francesca Cottone
Do you find yourself trapped in cycles of anxiety, overthinking, or fear? Maybe intrusive thoughts won't leave you alone, panic seems to show up out of nowhere, or you've found yourself avoiding situations, places, foods, or experiences that once felt manageable. Perhaps you're exhausted from constantly trying to prevent something bad from happening or feeling like anxiety is calling the shots in your life.
If you're looking for a space where you can feel understood, supported, and empowered to make meaningful change, Francesca is here to help!
Francesca is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Certified Rape Crisis Counselor. She earned her Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from DePaul University. Throughout her career, she has worked in a variety of clinical settings providing crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and individual, family, couples, and group therapy services.
Francesca specializes in working with children, teens, and adults struggling with anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), emetophobia, panic disorder, social anxiety, and specific phobias. She understands how overwhelming it can feel when fear, intrusive thoughts, compulsions, avoidance, or constant worry begin to interfere with daily life. Francesca is passionate about helping clients break free from these patterns so they can reclaim the parts of life that anxiety has taken away.
She also has specialized experience supporting individuals struggling with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), body image concerns, self-esteem challenges, and Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) such as skin picking, hair pulling, and nail biting. Francesca recognizes that these concerns often carry feelings of shame, frustration, and isolation, and she strives to create a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where healing and growth can occur.
Francesca is particularly passionate about supporting individuals living with chronic illness, chronic pain, and GI-related health conditions. She understands the unique challenges that can arise when physical symptoms and emotional well-being become intertwined. Whether you're navigating health-related anxiety, adjusting to a new diagnosis, managing chronic symptoms, or feeling limited by your condition, Francesca works collaboratively with clients to help them regain a sense of confidence, flexibility, and control.
In addition to her specialty areas, Francesca works with individuals experiencing trauma, PTSD, depression, relationship difficulties, communication challenges, stress, and major life transitions. Whether you're navigating changes in school, friendships, family relationships, marriage, divorce, parenthood, career, or identity, she believes you don't have to face those challenges alone.
Francesca utilizes evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Play Therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions. She believes therapy should be collaborative, individualized, and tailored to each client's unique strengths, goals, and experiences.
Clients often describe Francesca as warm, genuine, compassionate, and approachable. She believes meaningful change happens when people feel safe enough to be honest about their struggles and supported enough to take meaningful steps toward growth. Her goal is to create a therapeutic relationship where clients feel heard, valued, and empowered to move toward the life they want to live.
Francesca views therapy as a partnership. She is committed to walking alongside her clients through life's challenges while helping them build the tools, confidence, and resilience needed to thrive.
When she's not working, Francesca enjoys swimming, running, cooking, reading, and binge-watching the latest show.
