Franca Bibow, MSW, LMSW, RYT (she/her)

Psychotherapist at Empowered Therapy, LLC

Welcome! I am so excited you are here and would feel honored to work with you. I am a Licensed Master of Social Work and am currently undertaking clinical supervision with Kelly Caul, MSW, LCSW, SEP to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

I provide therapy to adolescents, 13 years and older, and adults of all ages. I enjoy working with individuals across diverse backgrounds and identities, with a specific joy to work with LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals.

Working with Adults

Sometimes the responsibilities and pressures we are holding start to take away from the flame of being alive. Each day starts to feel like the next and we are just going through the motions --- getting things done, pushing through, holding it all together –- but somewhere along the way, the feeling of being close to yourself has grown smaller and smaller.

You might feel a heaviness on your shoulders, a tug on your heels as you try to reach the next place that’s expecting you. Or maybe you notice how hard it is to slow down, how your mind keeps telling you all the things you still need to do or ‘should’ be doing, your body stays braced no matter how many times you tell yourself there is “nothing wrong.”

If you find yourself stuck in the numbing loop of perfectionism and self-criticism, please know there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. These patterns and beliefs are often your body’s way of protecting you, strategies that once helped you survive, even if they are no longer serving you now.

In our work together, we’ll slow down and begin to listen to what is happening inside – not just your thoughts, but also to what your body and nervous system are communicating. I believe therapy to be a co-created and expansive relationship in which we both have the space to show up authentically. My approach is gentle, compassionate, embodied, and relational.

Together we’ll explore what safety, trust, and presence can feel like again. We will tend to your capacity to hold the tough things right alongside the small and larger joys in life. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Healing is not about fixing ourselves—it’s about remembering the wisdom we already have inside of us. If you are exhausted from pushing through and ready to feel more connected and alive, I’d be honored to work with you.

Working with Kids & Teens

To the teen: Do you feel like nobody gets what you are going through? Or even if there are people around you who are trying to understand, maybe you struggle to find the right words for what you are wanting to say. That overwhelm of wanting to share but not knowing how is so common, and you don’t have to carry that alone. I know therapy can feel awkward, strange, or intimidating at first but I promise to make it as comfortable and supportive as possible. I go at your pace, and you will always be in choice around how we focus our time and what we explore. And! On the days where the last thing you want to do is talk, we don’t have to. We can play games, make art, listen to music, or try out a mindfulness practice instead. I am not here to push you, I am here to support you and provide a space where you can slow down, breathe, and be yourself.

To the parent(s): I work with kids and teens ages 10 and up who are navigating big feelings, identity questions, social stress, or periods of feeling down and disconnected. I am here to support your kiddo as they navigate the many emotional and social changes that naturally occur during adolescent and teenage years.

Building trust and safety is my greatest priority within the therapeutic relationship and process. I take time to help your teen feel truly seen and respected, so they can develop greater confidence and ease within themselves. Through a warm, attuned and reflective approach, I help teens explore their internal & lived experiences at a pace that is aligned with them.

I also understand that parents and caregivers play a central role in a teen’s well-being and I always welcome parental involvement in whatever way it is helpful and appropriate—balancing the kiddo’s need for autonomy with the family’s need for connection. I am here to support you, too, as you navigate this season of parenting.

Working with Young Adults

Being in your early adulting years--working towards a degree, stepping into the workforce, or taking on responsibilities bigger than what you once knew--is no easy feat. If you’re in school, the continuous balancing act of coursework, friendships, dating, family, athletics, part-time work, projects, hobbies can feel like an endless marry-go-round. Even the fun parts can feel overwhelming when everything is happening at once.

You might be feeling like you are giving it your all, doing as much as you can hold, saying “yes” to every opportunity, and still somehow feel like it’s not enough. The pressure to strive higher, take on more, push your limits can be both persistent and agonizing. For many of us, finding a moment of pause or step back from what is resting on our shoulders does not feel possible. And on top of all of that, many young adults are carrying the weight of what’s happening in the world. Caring so deeply while trying to stay afloat in your own life can feel heavy on your mind, body, and nervous system.

In our work together, I offer a grounded and curious space to sort through all of this. Whether you’re adjusting to independence, taking on new responsibilities, navigating constant internal &/or external pressure, exploring who you are, feeling stretched thin, or simply wanting a sounding board, there is room for you here. We’ll take things at your pace, listen to what your body and nervous system are telling you, and support you in finding steadiness, clarity, and connection.