Our CBT approach doesn’t treat you like a worksheet. You get evidence‑based therapy that respects your intelligence and focuses on changing the same old harmful cycles
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Walk into a lot of CBT rooms and you get the same thing – stock phrases like “just challenge that thought” or “try to think positive.” Your life gets squeezed into a script that the therapist could run with anyone.
When therapy ignores your history, your wiring and your actual day‑to‑day, it’s no surprise you push back. Your brain knows when something doesn’t fit, and “assembly‑line CBT” often feels like it’s happening to you, not with you.
In those setups, technique comes before connection. If the manual doesn’t match your situation, the work stalls – not because you’re “resistant”, but because the approach can’t flex around how you process information.
Your frustration with that kind of mechanical CBT isn’t a failure on your part. It’s a sign that one‑size‑fits‑all therapy is the problem, not your ability to change.
Francisco uses CBT as the backbone and integrates CBT with a range of other therapies that suit your circumstances. The focus is still on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours, but without ignoring the experiences underneath them.
Sessions don’t march through a script. They evolve from what actually comes up in the room (or on screen): what’s landed for you, what hasn’t, and how your brain naturally works. Together you test different strategies and keep what fits your life, attention span and learning style.
The “evidence‑based” part of CBT is only useful if it responds to your insights, not just the manual. Some weeks that might look like classic cognitive restructuring; other weeks it’s more acceptance‑focused or skills‑based work because that’s what your situation needs.
Adults with ADHD or more layered presentations often find this kind of flexible CBT a relief after years of being pushed through standard interventions that never quite fit. Francisco treats you as the expert on your own life, using your feedback and progress to shape where sessions go next, rather than dictating from a checklist.
ADHD comes with its own wiring, not a “lack of effort.” Francisco adapts CBT so it works with executive function differences instead of resisting them – using tools that match how ADHD brains take in information, remember it and act on it.
Sessions focus on concrete, real‑world strategies for working memory, planning and attention. Together you’ll build routines, prompts and systems that are actually doable with your energy and focus levels. Francisco also coordinates with your GP or psychiatrist so therapy supports, rather than clashes with, your medication plan.
Being diagnosed later in life usually comes with years of feeling “lazy” or “too much.” Francisco helps you unpack that old criticism and shame while building practical skills for attention, organisation and emotional regulation now.
Neurodivergent‑friendly CBT starts from the assumption that your brain isn’t broken – it’s wired differently. Therapy is built around that wiring, so change feels possible, not like another thing you’re “no good” at.
Anxiety, depression and trauma aren’t “just thoughts” – they’re loops between thoughts, feelings, body reactions and what’s happening around you. Good therapy takes that complexity seriously instead of reducing you to a three‑step worksheet. Based in Sydney, Francisco talks through options with you before using a new approach so you understand why it’s being suggested and what to expect. That informed choice respects your autonomy and helps you feel more confident and empowered in the direction you’re taking. Your feedback and priorities shape the plan from the first session onwards. You’re not a passenger; you’re part of deciding where therapy goes and what you work on next.
Your first session with Francisco isn’t a script – it starts with your story. He asks about what you’ve tried before, what helped (if anything), and what left you feeling let down. That becomes the basis for shaping CBT around your needs instead of repeating what hasn’t worked.
If you’re wary about trying therapy again, that makes sense. Early sessions focus on building real rapport and safety before diving into techniques. The aim is that you feel listened to and taken seriously, not pushed through yet another system.
You can contact Francisco directly to talk through where you’re at and whether this style of CBT feels like a fit. Together you’ll clarify your goals, biggest concerns, and how you prefer to work, so the plan feels genuinely tailored from day one rather than something done “to” you.
Fostering Change Counselling Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, waters, and Torres Strait Islander Cultures and Elders past and present.
CBT doesn’t tell you to “just think positive.” It helps you notice the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour, tests your thinking against real evidence, and builds practical ways of responding differently in tough situations.
Francisco doesn’t run you through a script. He adapts CBT tools to your feedback and learning style, bringing in other approaches when they fit better, so sessions feel responsive instead of repetitive or patronising.
Yes. CBT for ADHD focuses on realistic strategies for attention, planning and follow‑through that work with your medication, not instead of it. Francisco keeps executive function in mind and, where appropriate, can coordinate with your medical team.
Research shows online CBT can be just as effective for many issues, including anxiety and depression. Many people find it easier to open up from home, and secure video sessions remove travel and scheduling hassles that often stop therapy before it starts.
In your first conversation, you’ll talk through what you’re dealing with, what you’ve tried and what you want from therapy. Francisco will outline how CBT could help, where its limits are, and when another approach might be better, so you can decide together whether it’s the right fit.
