Dr. Colleen Downes, LCSW
Licensed in New York · 35 years in practice
Dr. Colleen Downes helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, parenting strain, relationship problems, grief, career concerns, ADHD, and reactions to trauma and abuse.
License and registration
- LCSW, New York
- 039784 · expires September 2028
- NPI
- 1730240516 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 35
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Colleen
Dr. Colleen Downes helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, parenting strain, relationship problems, grief, career concerns, ADHD, and reactions to trauma and abuse. She also supports those coping with chronic illness, caregiving duties, fertility and adoption issues, and feelings of abandonment or shame.
With 35 years of clinical experience, she brings steady judgment and practical support to each session. Her style is warm and interactive. She listens closely and treats people with respect and compassion.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on clear goals and usable strategies rather than jargon or layered theory. Dr. Downes blends client-centered care with psychodynamic and mindfulness methods.
That means conversations look at current problems and patterns from the past, while also practicing skills to manage feelings in the moment. She uses short-term solution-focused moves when a quick plan is helpful. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW practicing in New York, she has worked across mental health, caregiving, learning-disability supports, foster care, and adoption contexts.
This range informs her ability to adapt to different life challenges and medical concerns. Sessions are practical and goal-oriented. People leave with specific coping tools, clearer priorities, and next steps.
Dr. Downes aims to help each person feel more able to handle change and make steady progress toward their goals.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Colleen lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- 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 names
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and shaping sessions around what matters to the person. Online sessions keep that focus by letting the therapist follow the client's lead and adjust pacing and topics to immediate concerns, such as parenting stress or career decisions.Mindfulness therapy teaches simple practices to track thoughts and calm the body. In video or phone sessions, these practices can be demonstrated and practiced together, helping with anxiety, anger, and coping with chronic illness symptoms.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Dr. Downes works collaboratively to decide whether client-centered listening, mindfulness exercises, psychodynamic reflection, or brief solution-focused steps fit best. She adapts methods as goals change and checks in frequently so the plan stays useful.
Online formats provide flexibility for different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for richer communication. Phone sessions work when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat can be useful for brief problem-solving, and text-based messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to continue work during life transitions.
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Questions people ask
What issues does this therapist address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and parenting strain, career concerns, ADHD, trauma and chronic illness related challenges.
How would you describe the therapy style and approach?
Her approach is warm and interactive, focusing on clear goals and usable strategies. She blends client-centered listening with psychodynamic insight and mindfulness practices.
What is her professional background?
She has 35 years of clinical experience working in mental health, caregiving, learning-disability supports, foster care, and adoption-related work.
What credentials and location should I know?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW licensed in New York and practices from that state.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
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