Frances Berniger, LPC

Frances Berniger is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Texas with two decades of experience in mental health care. Before moving into counseling she spent sixteen years as a special education teacher, a background that informs her patient, skill-building approach with adults. She works primarily with adults age 35 and older who are navigating grief, depression, anxiety, trauma, relationship and intimacy challenges, self-esteem concerns, addiction issues, caregiving stress, and the emotional effects of life transitions.

Drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness practices, strength-based perspectives, and solution-focused techniques, she helps clients learn practical skills and coping strategies to manage symptoms and move toward meaningful goals. Frances places emphasis on collaboration and empowerment, guiding individuals to identify strengths, shift unhelpful thinking patterns, and develop tools for everyday challenges. She has experience supporting people affected by personality disorders in family roles, including spouses and adult children of individuals with narcissistic traits.

Frances offers flexible session formats and reports that many people choose audio sessions; she is also available for video when preferred. As an LPC, she holds professional licensure and applies evidence-informed methods to support long-term coping and personal growth.

Therapeutic approaches for online counseling

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the person's own goals and perspective, offering a supportive, nonjudgmental stance that helps adults explore feelings, values, and relationships while building self-trust. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and to develop practical coping skills. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and acceptance techniques that can reduce reactivity to difficult emotions and improve focus when facing trauma, grief, or everyday pressures.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative. Frances works with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals and then tailors strategies from these methods so the plan fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - which can make it easier to fit sessions into busy lives, maintain continuity during transitions, and access licensed professionals from a familiar environment. Frances uses these options to accommodate different comfort levels and practical schedules while delivering evidence-informed care.