Profile / United States
Frances Higgins, LICSW
Massachusetts
LICSW - Stress and relationship concerns
See online therapy options- CBT and skills work
- Trauma-informed approaches
- Solution-focused methods
About Frances
Frances Higgins is an LICSW practicing in Massachusetts with 30 years of clinical experience. She works with people who bring stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship concerns. Her work also covers a broad range of issues including addiction, grief, parenting strain, ADHD, intimacy problems, and eating concerns.
She begins by listening and then decides together with each person which methods to try. Frances describes her style as client-centered and practical. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) along with brief, solution-focused steps and strengths-based strategies.
When trauma or abuse is involved she uses trauma-informed ideas to help manage symptoms and support longer-term healing. That can include steady pacing, concrete coping tools, and careful attention to safety and boundaries. Frances also works with attachment issues and situations such as adoption, foster care, and blended family challenges.
Her background spans individual difficulties and problems that affect relationships and day-to-day functioning. She has experience addressing anger, codependency, communication problems, and first-responder stress. Frances also supports people facing complicated losses, divorce, domestic violence, and issues tied to chronic shame or guilt.
Sessions focus on learning small practical skills and testing different ways of responding. Conversations tend to aim for clearer thinking, manageable behavior changes, and better coping with distress. People who want concrete steps and a collaborative approach often find this style fits their needs.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Frances uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT breaks problems into specific thoughts, feelings and actions that can be tested and changed over time. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to look at how early relationships affect current connections and emotional responses, which can help with intimacy and relationship concerns.Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. Frances talks with each person about goals and preferences and then decides together which approaches to use. That collaborative process helps match skills and exercises to what feels doable for the client.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove the time spent traveling to appointments. Therapists can use video for in-depth skills practice or a shorter phone check-in for brief updates, depending on what is offered and what the client prefers.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address most often?
Frances works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship difficulties. She also helps with addiction, grief, parenting issues, ADHD, and eating concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic approach?
She uses a client-centered approach and pulls from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, DBT skills, attachment work and solution-focused strategies. The aim is practical steps people can try between sessions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 30 years of experience working with a wide range of concerns and client situations. That background informs her use of trauma-informed practices when needed.
What credential does she hold and where does she practice?
She is an LICSW and practices in Massachusetts.
Can I work with her if I'm outside the United States?
International clients are accepted and sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. The therapist asks clients to verify formats when they schedule.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process of working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.