Therapist Gwendolyn Downing Photo

Gwendolyn Downing, LPC

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma, Abuse Self esteem, Motivation
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alabama, with 36 years experience. I worked in a public agency for several years and have been in private practice for 17 years. I have helped individuals who have been referred through Self-referral, Employee Assistance Programs, and family court systems. I have had the privilege of helping people with Depression and Anxiety, Chemical and Process Addictions, Trauma and abuse issues, Family and Life issues, as well as other challenging situations.

I utilize several therapeutic strategies, including Motivational Interviewing, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma-focused Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. The strategies utilized are determined by the unique needs of the person with whom I am interacting. I believe each person is unique and presents with unique needs and unique strengths for addressing the identified concerns.

My focus is on people, not labels or statistics. I make it my practice to encourage and elevate people to be the success they were meant to be.

It requires courage and commitment to reach out for help, and I would be honored to be part of your journey. I look forward to working with you!

Professional experience

41 yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma, Abuse Self esteem, Motivation

Additional areas of focus: Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Family of origin issues, Family problems, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, HIV / AIDS, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexual dysfunction, Smoking / vaping cessation, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic brain injury, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues

Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

AL LPC 1393

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Gwendolyn Downing. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

She has helped me not blame myself that’s for sure

Written on Nov 24, 2025 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and adhd

Ms. Gwen listened so patiently with to all of my concerns. She's very professional and kind. I believe she will help me tap into some solutions to help myself to better self care and growth.

Written on Nov 16, 2025 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life

As my therapist Gwendolyn Downing has excelled and been able to meet my strict timelines for meeting and listened well and responded positively to my issues!

Written on Oct 28, 2025 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, and adhd

Gwendolyn Downing has been a Godsend through the loss of my mom and subsequently my husband, my cousin and my father. I have laid a lot of heavy burdens on her lap to help me sort through and she has been attentive, compassionate, honest, uplifting, and generally phenomenal. I have never had anyone so supportive outside of my mom. It’s been such a positive and healing experience with her that I would recommend her to anyone going through life’s challenges. Thank you a million times over for your support!

Written on Oct 23, 2025 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 1 year and 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue

Gwen gets me and our conversations are sometimes like therapist and client,
Other times like a conversation between friends where she gives gentle persuasion and direction in matters. I like her charm, advice and plain way of speaking. Gwen is tell it like it is, doesn’t sugar coat (but always politically correct wording) and gives me homework in occasion.

Glad I joined and connected with Gwen!

Written on Oct 14, 2025 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 1 year on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, parenting issues, and self esteem

Ms. Gwendolyn is a wonderful therapist! She is very validating and will not hesitate to listen to and understand your concerns.

Written on Oct 04, 2025 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, career difficulties, and coping with life changes