Francesca “Frankie” Stringer, LLMSW
Frankie earned her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Psychology with a minor in African and African American studies and then her Master’s Degree in Social Work both at Michigan State University (MSU). During graduate studies she completed certificates in Child Welfare and Evidence-Based Trauma Treatment through the university. She is currently working towards national TF-CBT certification.
Frankie’s professional experience includes working with youth and adults in various settings. She has worked with MSU’s Daughters of the Collective where she mentored 6th through 8th grade Black girls, MSU’s Adolescent Diversion Program where she was able to work with and advocate for youth in the Juvenile Justice system, at St. Vincent Catholic Charities as a lead youth advocate for youth in the foster care system as well as interned in their child welfare department working with families who were working towards reunification, and at End Violent Encounters (EVE Inc.) as a sexual assault advocate, providing supportive services and resources to individuals and families.
Although she has experience working with folx of all ages and backgrounds, Frankie’s heart lies within her work with children. Being able to bear witness to and actively listen to the stories youth would tell her during her early career in social work led her down the path of becoming a mental health therapist. She believes that there needs to be more spaces for youth to openly share their experiences and be heard because sometimes all they need is someone to listen, someone who offers them a space to heal. She reflects on her own life and challenges and embodies the person that she needed during her childhood to help create a space of healing and light for youth today. She recognizes that the world is full of challenges and hopes to encourage youth to overcome what overwhelms them.
Frankie’s goal as a mental health therapist is to support youth on a path towards healing because therapy is about meeting you where you are and collaboratively working towards healing. As a professional, she tends to use an integrative or holistic model which combines various therapeutic models and includes empowerment as well as strengths-based approaches. Her methods take into consideration the person as a whole, all of their life experiences up until their work together and even after. She believes that centering you and your experiences while working collaboratively and building a healthy therapeutic relationship creates a healing space that promotes accountability, resilience, and growth.