Frances Patton, LMFT

Frances Patton is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in South Carolina who brings 13 years of clinical experience to her work with individuals, couples, and families. She focuses on helping people move from a place of stuckness to meaningful change, combining clinical training with personal insight to guide the therapeutic process.

Frances offers specialized support for relationship and intimacy concerns, anxiety and stress, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, and issues related to self-esteem, eating, and sleeping. She also addresses abandonment and attachment concerns, codependency, commitment and communication problems, family-of-origin dynamics, infidelity, loneliness, life purpose, and post-traumatic stress. Her approach integrates well-established methods for both couples and individuals to tailor care to each person's needs.

Trained in Gottman Couples Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Frances uses approaches that are informed by research and aimed at improving connection, communication, and emotional understanding. She also draws on cognitive-behavioral strategies and motivational techniques when appropriate. Frances speaks from experience as well as training - she has navigated depression and a difficult marriage and divorce, and she has participated in therapy herself, which shapes her empathic and nonjudgmental stance.

Whether a client prefers faith-informed counseling or a non-religious approach, Frances adapts her work to align with values and goals, offering focused attention, practical skills, and support to help clients achieve lasting change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Frances Patton

Frances frequently draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy and the Gottman Method to support couples and individuals. Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people identify and work through core emotions that shape relationship patterns, promoting stronger bonds and greater emotional responsiveness. The Gottman Method emphasizes practical skills for communication, conflict management, and rebuilding trust, using research-informed interventions to improve day-to-day interactions.

She also incorporates cognitive-behavioral strategies when helpful, which focus on recognizing and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. These approaches are presented in accessible ways that aim to build skills and deepen understanding of oneself and one’s relationships.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Frances works with each person or couple to explore goals, preferences, and needs, and she tailors the therapeutic plan as they learn what works best. She supports clients in making practical changes while honoring their values and pace.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to access licensed professionals without travel. This variety of options helps clients maintain continuity of care and engage in treatment in the ways that suit them best.