Meet francesca
francesca depaul, MS, NCC
Child Therapist in New Hope, PA
Helping children feel understood, supported, and more confident
When your child is struggling, it can be hard to know what to do. You might notice that they seem more anxious than usual, have trouble explaining their feelings, feel left out by other children, or are having a harder time navigating everyday challenges. You may see a child who seems sad, withdrawn, or less confident in themselves. Or perhaps your child is beginning to explore who they are and needs a space where they can feel accepted and understood.
As a parent, you want to help, but you may not always know what your child needs or how to reach them. Child therapy can offer another kind of support: a place where your child can explore their feelings, build coping skills, and develop a stronger understanding of themselves.
Francesca provides child therapy in New Hope, Pennsylvania, helping children navigate emotional challenges, build confidence, and feel more comfortable being themselves.
Francesca believes that children deserve to be met with curiosity, compassion, and respect. When a child is struggling, it can be easy for the focus to fall on what they are doing or what seems to be going wrong. Francesca works to understand what might be happening beneath the surface, taking time to learn about each child's experiences, feelings, strengths, and needs.
Her approach is warm, collaborative, and strengths-based. Rather than assuming she already knows what a child needs, Francesca works to understand the child's perspective and create a therapeutic relationship where they can feel safe enough to share what is on their mind. She recognizes that every child is different, and therapy should reflect that.
Francesca draws from person-centered, cognitive-behavioral, systemic, multicultural, and trauma-informed approaches to help children better understand their emotions, develop new ways of coping, and build on the strengths they already have.
What can child therapy help with?
Children do not always have the words to explain what they are feeling. Sometimes, their distress shows up as worry, sadness, frustration, withdrawal, or difficulty connecting with other children. Other times, a child may simply seem less like themselves.
Francesca works with children experiencing challenges such as:
Anxiety and excessive worry: Helping children understand their fears and develop ways to manage anxious thoughts and feelings.
Sadness and depression: Supporting children who feel down, disconnected, lonely, or less interested in things they once enjoyed.
Friendship and social challenges: Helping children navigate relationships with peers, feelings of exclusion, and difficulties feeling connected.
Low self-esteem and confidence: Supporting children as they develop a more compassionate understanding of themselves and recognize their strengths.
Emotional challenges and life changes: Helping children make sense of difficult feelings and adjust to experiences that may feel confusing or overwhelming.
You do not need to know exactly what is wrong before reaching out. If you are concerned about your child's emotional well-being, therapy can be a place to begin understanding what they are experiencing and what kind of support may help.
What is therapy like for children?
Children experience and communicate the world differently from adults. Therapy needs to take their developmental stage, personality, and comfort level into account.
Francesca takes time to build a relationship with each child rather than expecting them to open up immediately. The goal is to help your child feel comfortable enough to explore their thoughts and emotions at their own pace. Over time, therapy can help children recognize their feelings, understand what may be contributing to their struggles, and practice new ways of responding to challenging situations.
The work is not simply about getting a child to behave differently or making difficult feelings go away. It is about helping them understand themselves, develop useful skills, and feel more capable of navigating their world.
How parents fit into the process
When a child is struggling, parents are often trying to make sense of what is happening while managing their own concern and uncertainty. You may have tried different ways to help without seeing the change you hoped for.
Parents and caregivers can be important partners in a child's therapeutic process. Depending on the child's needs, therapy may include opportunities to discuss concerns, understand patterns, and consider ways to support emotional growth at home. The goal is to help your child experience support that extends beyond the therapy room while respecting their individual needs and the therapeutic relationship.
Seeking therapy does not mean you have failed to help your child. It means you are making room for another source of understanding and support.
A little about Francesca
Francesca DePaul, MS, NCC, earned her Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. She is a National Certified Counselor and has training in grief counseling, marriage and family counseling, and LGBTQ+ considerations in counseling.
Francesca believes that people are more than the challenges they are experiencing. In her work with children, she brings a nonjudgmental, empathetic presence and a belief that growth happens when people feel understood, supported, and able to build on their strengths.
Child therapy in New Hope, Pennsylvania
Francesca offers child therapy through A Better Life Therapy's New Hope office. We know that finding the right therapist for your child is an important decision, and you do not have to have all the answers before taking the first step.
If you are looking for a child therapist who will take time to understand your child as an individual, Francesca may be a helpful place to start.
Ready to explore whether therapy could help your child?
Contact A Better Life Therapy to learn more about working with Francesca or to schedule an appointment.
Francesca DePaul, MS, NCC
A Better Life Therapy
580 Union Square Drive, Suite 580-A
New Hope, PA 18938
267-838-0066
info@abetterlifetherapy.com
50-minute session fee: $120
CHECK YOUR INSURANCE
I work with Mentaya, a platform that helps clients get money back on out-of-network therapy sessions. If you have out-of-network benefits, Mentaya will file claims and handle the insurance paperwork to make sure you get reimbursed. They charge a 5% fee per claim and you can use the tool below to check your insurance benefits.
For more information e-mail info@abetterlifetherapy.com.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN:
English
I WORK WITH…
Children (6 Years and Older)
SPECIALIZATIONS:
Anxiety
Depression
Friendship and Social Challenges
Behavioral Challenges
Trauma
Grief (Managing losses like separation, divorce, death, and life changes)
TRAINING & EDUCATION:
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Certifications:
National Certified Counselor
Trained In…
Grief Counseling
Marriage and Family Counseling
Navigating the Ethical and Legal Challenges of working with Minors
