“I approached Francesco in the lead up to my 2nd marriage, believing the anxiety I was feeling was due to a previous messy divorce. It quickly became apparent that it went back a lot further than that, to my childhood, and the feeling of not being good enough. Francesco is the most empathetic person I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I’d had years of talking therapy, which although helpful to let off steam, was not particularly alleviating the anxiety. After a number of EMDR sessions with Francesco, something shifted and the sense of inner calm I now have I can honestly say I’ve never experienced before. I’m sleeping better than I ever have, my recurring anxiety dreams have changed, and the Seasonal Affective Disorder that has plagued me every winter for as long as I can remember, has just…disappeared. For anyone on the fence about trying EMDR, I’d wholehearted encourage you to give it a go and trust Francesco to guide you through it with kindness and compassion!”
Em (online EMDR and IFS-informed therapy)
Dr Bernardi’s service towards mental health cannot be understated. Past experiences with psychologists were discouraging and I was met with hesitancy in starting with a new professional. I came across Francesco’s profile by chance and after an initial session with him, I found his style to be relaxed and collected. I continued to work with Francesco for a year and I found a marked difference in my mental health. We worked both virtually and in person through a combination of approaches including talk therapy, CBT and EMDR. Francesco’s measured approach is holistic yet deliberative. I feel like a different person in the most positive way, and he has helped me with constructing the relevant tools throughout the process of building self compassion. Francesco creates a safe space to explore your concerns with a manner of professional curiosity without prejudice. I highly recommend Francesco and I could not have chosen be a better professional to work with.
Yvonne T (online therapy)
“Deciding who to ask for help is a mind field and being honest realising you need help and doing something about it is a bigger one; but once you have taken the plunge and spoken out loud that “the tools I have for coping aren’t very good for me”, how do you pick the person to talk to?
I went down the route of as many qualifications and accreditations as possible. If I was opening Pandora’s box I wanted a qualified co-pilot to lead me through the fall out. So that was how I chose Dr Bernardi, but why would I recommend him to someone else?
It isn’t because he is calm, kind and compassionate (to confirm he is all of those things), it is a little to do with the fact that he paces a 50-minute session so well that you leave every one feeling like a complete person (even though you may have been a tearful mess at one point).
I would recommend Francesco because he successfully challenged some very hard wired thought processes and patterns that I have had cemented into my life since childhood. I achieved my goal of finding tools to help me cope when life is challenging and I understand myself better.
Words on a page won’t be able to convey the mountain I faced in re-programming some thought patterns, but by being honest and open (two hard things to do when you don’t want to face the dark) and thanks to Francesco, the climb isn’t so bad, I am finding the light.”
Rose Maxwell
“After realising that I was not coping after a bereavement, I sought the help of Dr. Bernardi in weekly sessions, after a recommendation from a friend. Having spent the past six months bottling my emotions from the event up inside of me, it felt incredibly strange telling them to a complete stranger. Francesco couldn’t have made me feel more at ease, and was able to make me realise that the way I was feeling was normal. He helped me recognise all of the different emotions I was feeling all at once, and to acknowledge that none of those emotions are bad. The best thing that I took from my sessions with Francesco, was to stop feeling guilty or ashamed when I find myself feeling happy, and that my life must go on, despite my loss. Francesco is compassionate, patient and made me feel completely at ease and I couldn’t recommend him enough.”
Emma Rose
Before seeing Francesco I never had had any therapy, so I have to say I couldn’t have asked for a better first experience and I feel really lucky that I found him. I felt quiet emotionally unstable and unsettled and I knew that I needed to seek out help, but had no idea what to expect. When meeting Francesco the first time, I instantly felt at ease and very comfortable around him. He creates a very safe and comforting environment in which I found it really easy to open up and share all my experiences and emotions with a complete stranger. Francesco was always very kind, patient and reassuring; he managed to put together my sometimes jumbled thoughts into clear structures and on the whole helped me to understand myself and my thought processes much better. He worked with me on changing those thought processes and patterns and challenged me to find their origins within myself – which wasn’t always easy, but incredibly helpful and beneficial for my emotional well-being. What I really liked is that he has a wide background with different therapy concepts and was easily able to adjust if certain approaches didn’t work for me. I can’t recommend and thank Francesco enough, he made a big difference for me and I noticed so many positive changes within myself, I feel much stronger, secure and confident than before starting therapy.
Anja V.
“When I reached out to Francesco my emotional life was in chaos. I was trapped in a cycle of abuse and co-dependency, and while I gave the impression of functioning normally, the reality was actually a very dark place.
Francesco helped me to get my thoughts in order, which gave me back perspective and enabled me to see my situation more objectively. I was never told by him how I should think or what I should want, he just helped me clear away the obstacles that were crowding my head and preventing me from seeing anything clearly.
The first step is always the most difficult: asking for help. Francesco’s gift – and it is rare a gift – is his natural ability to empathize and at the same time communicate and interact in a way that is always professional, but is also at the same time very personal.”
PMcH
Francesco has been a great guide and an excellent therapist. He helped me to explore my emotions and taught me how to better listen to them. He has also given me the tools to cope better with anxiety. I definitely recommend him!
Alessio P. (Online therapy)
Francesco is one of the loveliest people I have ever met! Very professional. You feel very comfortable talking to him. Highly recommended. Thank you for all your help and support!
Isyl A. (Online therapy)
I saw a lot of positive changes happening over the period of time Dr. Bernardi and I worked together. I am very happy with where I am now. Dr. Bernardi has a very empathic approach and it is easy to feel comfortable during the sessions.
Elisa U. (Online therapy)
“When I finally mustered the courage to get in touch with a professional, I was a complete wreck. I had just come out of a symbiotic and toxic relationship with someone and thought very little of myself. I couldn’t trust anyone, let alone a psychologist. Francesco was able to pick up on that – in hindsight I can see that! – and compassionately and patiently listened to me whilst at the same time making me feel safe about sharing my innermost struggles with a complete stranger. Seeking help was one of the most difficult decisions in my life, and finding Francesco through word of mouth was very lucky indeed. Francesco allowed me to explore why I was so anxious at connecting with people and we set a few tasks to challenge my long-held beliefs about myself. I feel like I am a more stable person and I know that there is still more work to do, but I feel confident that I can finally go out in the world on my own and draw on what I learned in therapy. I couldn’t recommend Francesco enough and knowing that I can return to him makes me feels safe.”
Luke P.
I found the sessions I had with Dr Bernardi extremely beneficial. He was very understanding and would really strive to engage with me and in doing so help me to get to the root of various problem and find solutions. I would have absolutely no hesitation recommending him to others.
Nicholas RW.
Francesco was the best experience I have had with a therapy-related professional, and his work created tangible changes in my life, real world positive outcomes and greater happiness. His approach was effective, he was sensitive to what I was after and the work we did made me feel empowered in the real progress that was made.
F. T.
Francesco was the best experience I have had with a therapy-related professional, and his work created tangible changes in my life, real world positive outcomes and greater happiness. His approach was effective, he was sensitive to what I was after and the work we did made me feel empowered in the real progress that was made.
S.T. (online therapy)
Francesco is an excellent therapist and takes time to understand what is needed and the best way to approach it. Having been new to therapy, it could be quite daunting, but Francesco helped remove any concerns or stigma and approach things in a calm, soothing, and ultimately, beneficial way. Would highly recommend.
P.G. (online IFS-informed therapy)
Dr Bernardi is a reliable, kind, easy to talk to and non-judgemental therapist. Throughout my sessions with him I was impressed by his patience, listening skills and the usefulness of his observations. Through EMDR, CBT and Internal Family Systems, Dr Bernardi helped me understand and find closure to my various traumas and to manage my anxiety. Thanks to my sessions with him I was able to accomplish things I didn’t think I could and develop an outlook on my life that helped me reach my goals and find more joy in my daily life.
L.G. (in-person & online IFS-informed EMDR therapy)
Francesco is a highly trusted and capable doctor with a real care and interest in his patients. He is a kind, compassionate and an excellent listener. Since the first moment I walked into his studio, I felt completely at ease, and I immediately connected with him. My experience throughout one and half years of therapy has been very positive. As a result I feel my self-esteem has increased, and I can handle better everyday life challenges. I would have no hesitation in recommending Francesco to anyone that might need face to face, or online therapy.
Stefany Muscas (in-person & online IFS-informed therapy)
I found Dr Francesco to be a great therapist. He was patient and understanding, and accommodating. He listened to feedback and was open and caring in our sessions. When we went down a path that wasn’t working, he was quick to adapt and use his tools and experience to implement methods that worked for both of us and our sessions together. I’d recommend him to anyone who wants to work on past trauma and relationship issues, which was my case, or overall mental health and wellbeing.
David V. (online EMDR and IFS-informed therapy)