If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts, or caught between the weight of the past and the uncertainty of the future, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to navigate it on your own.

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I’m Francesco, a Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor with over eight years of experience in the mental health field. My work is grounded in the belief that human suffering is meaningful, adaptive, and understandable when approached with curiosity and compassion. Therapy, as I see it, is not about fixing what’s broken, but about helping you understand yourself more deeply so that change can emerge naturally and sustainably.

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My therapeutic style integrates evidence-based practice with holistic and existential perspectives. I draw primarily from mindfulness-based approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Together, we explore how thoughts, emotions, behaviours, relationships, and the nervous system interact—while creating space to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most to you.

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I work with individuals navigating addiction and recovery, trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges, and chronic pain or illness. I have a particular interest in supporting clients who feel disconnected from purpose or identity, and those who sense there is something meaningful trying to emerge through their struggle.

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At the heart of my work is a collaborative and non-judgmental relationship. You are the author of your own story. My role is to walk alongside you—helping you strengthen emotional regulation, develop resilience, clarify values, and cultivate the courage to take responsibility for the changes you want to make in your life. Therapy here is both compassionate and grounded, honouring your lived experience while inviting growth, accountability, and integration.

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I also offer specialized support for individuals living with Crohn’s disease or colitis, informed by both professional training and lived experience. This mind–body lens allows us to explore the interplay between stress, meaning, identity, and physical health with nuance and care.

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Alongside my private practice, I work within a substance use rehabilitation centre, providing trauma-informed, evidence-based care to individuals in recovery. This work has deepened my respect for the courage it takes to face suffering directly—and for the resilience that can emerge when people are met with dignity, honesty, and support.

Beyond clinical practice, I contribute to the evolving field of psychedelic medicine as a researcher with MAPS Canada, Heroic Hearts Canada, and the Zendo Project. My research focuses on therapeutic applications of psychedelics, veteran mental health, Canadian drug policy, and the development of ethical, community-based harm reduction frameworks. This perspective allows me to thoughtfully bridge science, mindfulness, and compassion in my therapeutic work.

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If you’re seeking a therapist who combines clinical depth, mindful presence, and an existential understanding of human suffering and growth, I would be honoured to support you on your journey.

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Research

• The prevalence and experience of loneliness in persons with cognitive impairment on an Inpatient Geriatric Unit — Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

• Examining the Special Access Program (SAP) for the therapeutic use of psychedelics in Canada: An exploratory study of determinants impacting access (EXPAND Study) — MAPS Canada

• Veterans’ experiences using psychedelics for mental illness, chronic pain, and sleep disturbance: A retrospective comparative outcome analysis — Heroic Hearts Project Canada

• Advancing Community-Based Psychedelic Harm Reduction: Evaluation of the Zendo Sitting and Integration Training (SIT) Program — Zendo Project

• The Impact of Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy on Relational Functioning in Veteran and First Responder Couples — Project Trauma Support

• Exploration of the experiences of Canadian military veterans using psychedelics to address mental health, pain, and sleep disturbance — Heroic Hearts Project Canada