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

41yrs 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.

My therapist is understanding, listens to and validates my feelings and concerns. She provides guidance to help me to navigate challenges that I face in live and within myself. I value her knowledge and encouragement. I am growing stronger and healthier thanks to her insight and suggestions. She offers resources that help me to understand, initiate, and maintain healthy interactions in every area of my life.

Written on Dec 14, 2024 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd

Very experienced and kind. Responds to messages quickly even on weekends.

Written on Dec 08, 2024 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd

I felt comfortable with Gwendolyn right from the start. She relates to everything I tell her and nothing is shocking to her. she helps me make a plan for what ever I'm dealing with and I feel at ease after our conversations.

Written on Dec 04, 2024 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, and coaching

I am truly grateful for the support and guidance I have received from Gwendolyn. From our very first session, they created a warm and welcoming environment where I felt comfortable sharing my thoughts and feelings. Their compassionate approach made it easy for me to open up, and I always left our sessions feeling understood and validated.

Written on Nov 19, 2024 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 10 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd

It was great Gwen, thank you. I was trying the service out and grateful to have had you as my therapist. I hope one one day when I return I could still be paired with you.

Written on Nov 01, 2024 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and coaching

I just started using better help . I do wish the visits were longer but other than that I wouldn’t change anything. I’m very happy with Gwendolyn

Written on Oct 14, 2024 after therapy with Gwendolyn for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd