Dr. Colleen Downes, LCSW

Dr. Colleen Downes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, parenting strain, caregiver fatigue, relationship and family concerns, and life changes like grief or chronic illness. She also helps with issues tied to adoption and foster care, attachment questions, ADHD, career strain, and coping after trauma. Dr. Downes practices in New York and works in English.

She brings 35 years of experience to sessions and focuses on a warm, interactive style. Conversations aim to be respectful and nonjudgmental. The therapist frames work around what the person wants to change and the goals they set together.

Her approach blends client-centered listening with psychodynamic exploration and solution-focused steps. She uses mindfulness techniques and practical problem-solving to build coping skills. Sessions typically move between talking through feelings, noticing patterns from the past, and trying small, doable changes in daily life.

Dr. Downes has a history of working with people affected by chronic medical conditions, caregiving stress, learning differences, and the emotions that follow adoption and foster care. She also supports people wrestling with career decisions, impulsivity, guilt, and forgiveness.

People who choose her can expect a collaborative relationship that balances reflection with action. The aim is to help someone feel more able to handle their current demands and make clearer choices about what comes next.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the person. Online sessions using this approach prioritize the client's goals and pace, helping someone talk through problems and decide what to try next.

Mindfulness therapy teaches moment-to-moment awareness and simple practices to reduce stress. In remote sessions, this can include guided breathing, short grounding exercises, and skills you can use between meetings to manage anxiety or overwhelm.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to figure out which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That discussion can happen during an initial session and be revisited as therapy moves forward.

The practical benefit of online therapy is fitting sessions into everyday life. Confirm the session formats available before booking so you know what to expect. Online work can make it easier to schedule around caregiving, medical appointments, or work, and it lets people practice strategies in their own routines. Talk with the therapist about what will work best for your situation and how to structure sessions to meet your goals.