About

Headshot of a smiling man with gray hair in a white dress shirt and dark blazer against a dark gray background.

Dr. Fran Kuehn, DSW, LICSW, M.Ed., Diplomate A-CBT

Fran is a cognitive behavioral therapist with a private practice in Newton Center, MA, specializing in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders, anxiety disorders, and phobias. Fran offers therapy in-person and virtually via tele-health for patients in Massachusetts, and consultation virtually for clinicians everywhere. 

With decades of clinical and academic experience — including a current faculty role at Simmons University — Fran brings both depth and warmth to his work. His doctoral research focused on training clinicians in evidence-based approaches to OCD treatment, with a particular emphasis on Inference-Based Cognitive Therapy (I-CBT).

Fran's approach to treatment is rooted in a simple conviction: healing should restore who you are, not ask you to endure more suffering to get there. His practice integrates Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and I-CBT — an emerging, highly promising approach that treats OCD at its root by rebuilding trust in one's own sense of self.

He is a Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, and a professional member of the International OCD Foundation and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Education

Doctor of Social Work, University at Buffalo School of Social Work May 2025

Masters in Special Education, Boston University May 2002

Masters in Social Work, Boston University May 2001

Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), State University of New York at Geneseo May 1996

Experience

Cognitive Behavior Therapist in Private Practice, Newton, MA 2008 - Present

  • Provide high quality evidence-based therapeutic interventions for a wide variety of mental health challenges experienced by a diverse population of adolescents and adults.

  • Therapies employed: Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Inference-Based Cognitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Exposure with Response Prevention

Associate Professor of Practice, Simmons University, Boston, MA 2022 - Present

  • Coordinator of the School Social Work Licensure Program

  • Teach CBT, Advanced Clinical Practice, School Social Work Courses, Family Therapy

  • Advise Students

  • Serve on University and Program Committees

Adjunct Instructor, Boston College School of Social Work 2022 - Present

  • Instructor for SCWK 8858 Clinical Social Work Practice in Schools

Contract Instructor, Salem State University Graduate School of Social Work, Salem, MA 2020 - 2022

  • Teach Graduate level Social Work Courses: Social Policy, Dynamics of Privilege and Oppression, Practice with Children and Families, Integrative Case Analysis and Decision Making

  • Advise Graduate Students

  • Chair the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee

Senior Adjunct Instructor, Simmons University School of Social Work 2007 - 2022

  • Course Designer and Senior Instructor for two Graduate Clinical Practice Courses.

  • Lead a team of course instructors in the delivery of high quality education in the practice of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and therapeutic interventions in academic settings.

Clinical Social Worker, Brookline High School, Brookline, MA 2001 - 2020

  • Provide evidence-based therapeutic interventions for a diverse and international population of students.

  • Engage in crisis response, brief treatment and emergency evaluations to ensure student safety.

  • Advocate for students and families in disciplinary hearings, IEP meetings and re-entry meetings.

  • Collaborate with outside providers to create comprehensive interdisciplinary student support plans.

Mindful Stress Resilience Curriculum Coordinator 2015 - 2019

  • Design, lead and implement a comprehensive mindfulness curriculum school-wide, with a cohort of educators from every department in the school.

Program Coordinator, the ExCEL Program 2009 - 2012

  • Lead a team of educators in providing a therapeutic learning environment for students with emotional and behavioral challenges.

  • Supervised, consulted and supported teacher interventions and pro-social classroom culture.

Presentations / Workshops 2011 - Present

  • Andover Public Schools - Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Professional Development 2025-2026

  • Bull City Anxiety and OCD Treatment Center - Inference-Based Cognitive Therapy for OCD - 2026

  • Strong Roots Counseling - Inference-Based Cognitive Therapy for OCD - 2026

  • OCD New Hampshire - Inference-Based Cognitive Therapy for OCD - 2025

  • The Bridge Training Institute Clinical Experts Series - Inference-Based Cognitive Therapy for OCD - 2025

  • Bristol County Agricultural High School Trauma-Informed Schools Faculty workshop - 2024

  • Andover Public Schools Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) Professional Development 2023-2024

  • Keynote Speaker NASW-MA School Social Work Conference - 2022

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children and Families - The Bridge Institute 2022

  • Clinical Experts Series Presenter on School Mental Health - The Bridge Institute 2021

  • Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance School Mental Health Conference (Using CBT to transform the culture of your school - 2020)

  • The Bridge Institute (Best Practices for Social Emotional Learning in Schools - 2020)

  • Boston University School of Social Work Professional Education Programs (Social and Emotional Learning in Schools: How School Mental Health Providers can teach Resilience, Regulation and Improve the Wellbeing of their School – 2016, 2018); (New Approaches with Challenging Students: Transforming School Culture through Collaborative and Positive Behavioral Interventions 2013-2017); (Meeting Children’s Mental Health needs where they are: Social Work services in Schools (2011).

  • LABBB Collaborative (Foundations of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for School Providers – 2017)

  • The Bridge Institute (New Approaches with Challenging Students: Transforming School Culture through Collaborative and Positive Behavioral Interventions – 2015.)

  • School Social Work Association of America Annual Conference (Strategies to change School Culture to address student discipline – 2013); (How understanding teacher mindset can help School Social Workers transform student relationships and School Culture – 2014).

  • Harvard Medical School; School Mental Health Conference (Redemption and Restoration in Schools: Effective Discipline Strategies for Our Most Challenging Students – 2014).

  • Assabet Valley Collaborative (New Approaches with Challenging Students: Transforming School Culture through Collaborative and Positive Behavioral Interventions – 2014, 2015).

Certifications

Graduate, the International OCD Foundation Behavioral Therapy Training Institute (BTTI), 2022

Diplomate, The Academy of Cognitive Therapy, 2015

Mindful Schools Educator, 2014

Benson Henry Institute for Mind-Body Medicine, 2014

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Certificate Program, Boston University, 2012

Volunteer Work

Massachusetts affiliate of the International OCD Foundation

Inference-Based Cognitive Therapy IOCDF Special Interest Group