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Meet Lastenia Francis, PhD, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in NY, NC, VA, VT, & MD.

Currently has limited daytime availability for clients. Accepts most major insurances and private pay. See FAQ.

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About Me.

Every relationship tells a story, sometimes one of love and resilience, and at other times, one of silence, distance, or pain. Many of the people I work with come to me because their story no longer feels sustainable. The arguments repeat, the disconnection deepens, or the weight of past wounds continues to press into the present. They want something to change, but they’re not sure how. My role is to step into that story with you, not to judge or dictate, but to help you slow down, see more clearly, and begin writing the next chapter with intention.

 

I am married, a mother of two, and proudly Jamaican. These aspects of who I am remind me daily that relationships are both a source of joy and a source of deep work. To me, being Jamaican means living in connection with my family, community, and culture. It means holding on to resilience and laughter, even in the face of hardship. It also means recognizing that life is not meant to be lived alone; we heal in relationships. This belief is at the heart of my work.

 

Congruence, living in alignment with who you really are, is one of my deepest values. I believe the healthiest, strongest version of a person is also the most authentic one. I’ve done that work in my own life, and I bring that same commitment to my work with clients. In individual therapy, I help people find their voice, break free from patterns that keep them small, and step into a more authentic way of being with themselves and others.

 

With couples, my greatest passion, I create space for repair. Whether you’re recovering from infidelity, navigating the tender adjustments of postpartum life, or stuck in a cycle of criticism and withdrawal, I believe repair is possible when both partners are willing to show up. My role is to help you navigate those heated moments, listen more attentively, and explore new ways of responding that create space for safety and accountability.

 

With families, especially Black families, I bring an attachment lens. Too often, survival has required us to suppress our needs or disconnect from our emotions. These strategies may have helped us navigate difficult times, but they can also leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves and from each other. Therapy becomes a place where those patterns can be named, honored, and reshaped, allowing new ways of relating to emerge.

 

I am trauma-certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure, and Trauma-Focused CBT. I bring these tools into my work when trauma (personal, generational, or systemic) has left clients feeling stuck in survival mode. I integrate them gently, always attuned to pacing and safety, because I believe trauma healing requires both skill and compassion.

 

Clients describe me as warm, steady, and direct. I will hold your story with deep care, but I will also challenge you to face the patterns that no longer serve you. Therapy with me isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about slowing down enough to notice, listening deeply enough to feel safe, and practicing new ways of being that move you toward the relationships you long for.

 

In addition to my clinical work, I am an AAMFT-approved supervisor. I am passionate about helping therapists become their most authentic selves by engaging in in-depth self-awareness work and recognizing the strengths in their intersectional identities and lived experiences. Just as I encourage clients to embrace congruence, I invite therapists I supervise to do the same.

 

If you are ready to reclaim your story, to create relationships rooted in authenticity and connection, I would be honored to walk alongside you.​

Credentials & Experience

  • PhD in Marriage & Family Therapy – Northcentral University (research focused on Black military families)

  • MS in Marriage & Family Therapy – Mercy College

  • BA in Psychology & Sociology – Stony Brook University

  • Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) in NY, NC, MD, VT, and VA

  • AAMFT Approved Supervisor

  • Over 10 years of experience serving Black and Hispanic communities in individual, couples, and family therapy

  • Specialized training in family systems therapy, trauma-focused modalities (EMDR, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Prolonged Exposure), Narrative Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, the Gottman Method, and Structural Family Therapy

Focus Areas

  • Couples therapy: rebuilding trust after infidelity, navigating postpartum transitions, and strengthening communication and emotional safety
  • Family therapy: addressing conflict, repairing attachment ruptures, and healing intergenerational patterns
  • Individual therapy: trauma recovery, anxiety, depression, and identity development
  • Clinical supervision: guiding LMFTAs and post-graduate clinicians in systemic competence, self-of-the-therapist growth, and practice development
  • BIPOC experiences: supporting clients navigating systemic stress, cultural identity, and relational balance within diverse contexts

Providing only teletherapy sessions from the comfort of your home to New York, North Carolina, Vermont, Maryland, and Virginia residents.

P: 347-970-2670

P: 919-551-3217

F: 919-289-3217

E: Meaningfulemotion@gmail.com

Hours of regular operation: Mon & Friday 8am - 8pm, Tue-Thurs 8am-4pm, Saturday 8-12pm; We are closed on Sunday

 

Appointments upon request.

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© 2023 by Meaningful Emotion Therapy LLC

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