- Client-centered work
- Mindfulness practices
- Solution-focused goals
About Colleen
Dr. Colleen Downes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 35 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, self-esteem struggles, career challenges, ADHD, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting strain, anger, and depression. She also supports coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and related issues like adoption and foster care, attachment concerns, chronic illness, and caregiver stress.
Her style is straightforward and conversational. Sessions focus on understanding what is happening now, naming what feels hard, and finding practical ways to manage day-to-day life. She draws on client-centered conversation to help people feel heard and on mindfulness practices to build calmer moments in the day.
Dr. Downes combines psychodynamic ideas with solution-focused work. That means she helps people notice patterns that repeat over time while also setting small, achievable goals for change. Work can include reflecting on past experiences, trying new behaviors, and practicing short exercises between meetings.
She has a long history in mental health settings, disability supports, caregiving roles, foster care, and adoption work. That background informs how she discusses issues like chronic illness, fertility concerns, family of origin problems, and immigration-related stress.
Sessions tend to center on clear, manageable steps rather than long theoretical talks. People leaving a session will often have one or two concrete things to try before the next meeting, and space to talk about what worked and what did not.
Approaches used in online sessions and what to expect
Dr. Downes uses client-centered work to focus on each person's concerns and priorities, helping people talk through what matters most in their lives. Mindfulness techniques are offered in short, practical exercises that can help reduce immediate stress and heighten moment-to-moment awareness. Psychodynamic ideas are used to notice recurring patterns and to understand how past experiences shape present reactions.Choosing the right approach is part of the process. She will work with the client to decide which methods fit best based on current needs, goals, and preferences. The plan can shift over time as small goals are tried and reviewed together.
Confirm the available session formats before booking so schedules match practical needs. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into work breaks or days with caregiving responsibilities, and they let people keep meetings without traveling. If a shorter check-in or a session without video is preferable, discuss that option when arranging appointments so the format suits your routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
35+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, self-esteem, career worries, ADHD, relationships, family and trauma-related concerns among others.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is conversational and practical, combining client-centered listening with mindfulness and goal-focused techniques.
How much experience does she have?
She has 35 years of experience in mental health, caregiving, learning disabilities, foster care, and adoption-related work.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in New York and practices from that location.
Which languages does she offer sessions in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to meet with her?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.