Therapist Gwendolyn Downing Photo

Gwendolyn Downing, LPC

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Self esteem
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

38yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuse Self esteem

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, Military and Veterans 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.

I switched therapists a few times starting out on BetterHelp. I have been meeting with Gwendolyn for almost 2 years now, and I look forward to our meetings every week! She is always so supportive, and gives great insight. I can go into my session feeling so down on myself, and leave feeling so proud of myself and refreshed. I have come so far since first meeting with her, and I don’t think I could ever thank her enough for what she’s helped me learn about myself and accomplish!

Written on Sep 28, 2023 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 years and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Gwendolyn has been wonderful! She has listen to my struggles, gave me some suggestions, given gentle recommendations & listened a lot! She has sent me some worksheets that have been helpful with specific struggles I am facing. She is kind, compassionate, honest & helpful! I am thankful to have crossed paths with her!

Written on Sep 18, 2023 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd

Gwendolyn is extremely knowledgeable, professional, and respectful. She's always on time and responds to messages in a timely manner. She's also been very understanding and empathetic.

Written on Jul 30, 2023 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 months on issues concerning addictions, relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues

Gwendolyn has been helpful in addressing my needs and understanding my own need for patience with myself. She provides an excellent objective viewpoint to help reframe things so I can see how I've progressed.

Written on Jul 25, 2023 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 years on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coaching, and adhd

Helped me a lot! Understanding situations logically from a neutral perspective ,and giving great advice which was exactly what I needed

Written on Jul 22, 2023 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 3 months on issues concerning depression, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, self esteem, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue

I have been seeing miss Gwendolyn for almost two years. She is my favorite part of the week and I look forward to my sessions. She is honest and reassuring.

Written on Jun 10, 2023 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 1 year and 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, coaching, and adhd