- Years in practice
- 35
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- New York
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Self esteem
- Focus
- Career difficulties
About Colleen
Dr. Colleen Downes helps people manage stress, anxiety, parenting strain, relationship struggles, grief, and life transitions. She also supports those dealing with ADHD, depression, trauma, caregiver fatigue, and work or career concerns.
She is Dr. Colleen Downes, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with extensive experience in these areas. Her approach is warm and interactive.
Conversations are respectful and nonjudgmental. She listens first, then works with people to set practical goals for change.
Background and approach
Dr. Downes draws on client-centered work and psychodynamic ideas to understand patterns that influence behavior. She also uses mindfulness to reduce overwhelm and solution-focused techniques to find workable next steps.
Sessions are adapted to each person's situation rather than following a fixed script. Her background includes long experience with chronic medical conditions, adoption and foster care concerns, caregiving stress, and learning disabilities. This history informs how she frames problems and suggests strategies for daily life.
People often come for help with parenting questions, blended family issues, attachment concerns, or managing anger and impulsivity. Dr. Downes also supports those facing fertility, immigration, or chronic illness challenges.
She aims to help people build coping skills and clearer ways to move forward. Sessions are offered in English and provided from New York. She brings 35 years of practice as an LCSW to her work and focuses on practical, human solutions that fit each person's needs.
What Colleen works with
Everything Colleen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Colleen helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- ADHD
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Multicultural concerns
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Colleen lists
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions that fit family life
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's experience. The therapist follows your lead, reflects what she hears, and helps you clarify goals and choices in parenting and daily life. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple practices to reduce overwhelm and stay calmer in stressful parenting moments. These exercises can help with anxiety, anger, and coping when life feels intense.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. She will then suggest tactics from these approaches and adjust them as needed so the plan fits the person's situation and schedule.
Online therapy offers practical options for busy families and individuals. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when a longer session is helpful. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a quick check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief updates, homework check-ins, or when someone prefers written communication. These formats give flexibility to fit sessions into work breaks, school schedules, or caregiving routines.
Questions people ask about Colleen
What issues can Dr. Downes help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, parenting challenges, relationship concerns, ADHD, trauma, grief, caregiver fatigue, and work or career problems.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm, interactive, and nonjudgmental. She listens closely and works collaboratively to set realistic goals and next steps.
What experience does she bring?
She has 35 years of clinical experience working with people affected by chronic illness, adoption and foster care issues, caregiving stress, and a wide range of mental health concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, credentialed as NY LCSW, and practices from New York.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not currently accepted.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are needed to get started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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