Francesca Manzi, BACP

Francesca Manzi is a UK-based counsellor with more than 20 years of professional experience, bringing a broad background in health and social care to her therapeutic work. She holds accreditation with the BACP - the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy - which is the UK professional body for counsellors and psychotherapists. Francesca specialises in supporting people dealing with grief, depression, stress and anxiety, and she also works extensively with those facing chronic health issues and disability.

She has a particular interest in helping adult children of emotionally immature parents and survivors of narcissistic abuse, alongside offering support for compassion fatigue, self-esteem concerns, and major life changes. Her additional focus areas include cancer, chronic pain and illness, codependency, family of origin and family problems, hospice and end-of-life counselling, isolation and loneliness.

Before qualifying as a counsellor, Francesca worked in nursing, midwifery and foster care, experience that informs her empathetic and practical approach to therapy. She aims to support clients through healing and adjustment, combining professional knowledge with lived-experience awareness to help people navigate complex emotional and health-related challenges.

Evidence-based approaches and the benefits of online therapy

Francesca draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques tailored to the presenting issue rather than relying on a single method. For grief and bereavement she uses grief-focused interventions that help clients process loss, make sense of changing roles, and find ways to adapt while retaining meaningful memories. For stress and anxiety she applies skills-based strategies that teach practical tools for managing overwhelming thoughts, reducing physiological arousal, and improving everyday coping.

She also offers supportive therapy for people living with chronic illness, pain, or facing end-of-life concerns, providing space to explore emotions, practical planning and ways to manage the impact of health challenges. Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process - Francesca works collaboratively with each client to identify goals, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what fits best with the client’s needs and preferences.

Online therapy with Francesca is available by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and energy levels. These options make it easier to access consistent support from a registered professional when in-person sessions are difficult, allowing work to continue from home, during travel, or around medical appointments.