Licensed clinical social worker recordNew York
Dr. Colleen Downes, LCSW
New York
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - stress and relationships
Continue with ColleenCredentials check
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in New York
- LCSW, licence 039784
- NPI
- 1730240516
- Experience
- 35 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- New York
These details come from information Colleen supplied to BetterHelp. A licence can be checked with the social work board of the state that issued it, and an NPI with the national registry.
AAbout
- Psychodynamic approaches
- Mindfulness techniques
- Solution-focused work
About Colleen
Dr. Colleen Downes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in New York with 35 years of experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family difficulties, grief, parenting challenges, ADHD, career concerns, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes. She also addresses compassion fatigue and coaching needs.
She has worked across mental health, learning disabilities, chronic illness care, caregiving, foster care, and adoption settings. That background means she often sees people dealing with chronic medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, or cancer alongside emotional strain. She also supports those facing adoption, attachment, and family of origin issues.
Her style is interactive and person-focused. Sessions typically involve talking through current problems, identifying patterns from the past, and practicing practical coping strategies. She draws on psychodynamic ideas to understand emotional patterns and uses solution-focused and client-centered techniques to set goals and try concrete steps.
Modest use of mindfulness exercises is part of her work to help people manage anxiety and stress in day-to-day life. Sessions emphasize practical tools you can use between meetings, such as short grounding practices, clearer communication strategies, and simple planning for career or caregiving challenges.
Dr. Downes aims to help people clarify priorities and take manageable steps forward. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session to set goals and decide on the best approach.
BHow sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Dr. Downes blends client-centered, psychodynamic, and solution-focused ideas to guide online sessions. Client-centered work focuses on listening and responding to what matters to the person now, which can help with relationship stress, low self-esteem, and coaching goals. Psychodynamic work looks at patterns that repeat over time and helps people understand how past relationships influence current behavior, useful for attachment issues and family of origin concerns. Solution-focused work narrows attention to concrete steps and small goals, which is helpful for career decisions, coping strategies, and short-term problem solving.Choosing which approach to use is part of the collaborative process. She will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has helped before, then try approaches that fit those needs. Sessions can change over time as goals evolve and as practical concerns emerge.
The original biography did not list specific session formats, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people find virtual sessions easier to fit into work, caregiving, or medical schedules because they remove travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Online work also makes it simpler to continue therapy while managing chronic illness or caregiver responsibilities, as sessions can be scheduled around medical appointments and daily routines.
CAreas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
DQuestions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family issues, parenting, ADHD, grief, career challenges, and coping with life changes among other concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses an interactive, person-focused style that combines understanding past patterns with practical problem-solving and short mindfulness practices.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 35 years of experience working in mental health, learning disabilities, chronic illness care, caregiving, foster care, and adoption settings.
What are her credentials and where is she licensed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in New York.
What languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are used?
The biography did not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, call 911, or call or text 988. More crisis numbers