Counsellor profile
Colleen Downey, BACP
Counsellor and psychodynamic psychotherapist - relationships and mood
See online counselling options- psychodynamic therapy
- relationship issues
- mood and anxiety
About Colleen
Colleen Downey is a counsellor and psychodynamic psychotherapist and a member of the BACP. She has six years' experience and works with issues such as depression, stress and anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and eating problems.
Colleen listens to each person's story and helps them notice patterns that affect day-to-day life. She uses psychodynamic ideas to look at how past experiences and relationships can shape current feelings and reactions. Sessions are a place to talk through difficult events and recurring problems in a steady way.
Work often begins by identifying what feels most pressing right now. Colleen helps people name emotions, make sense of repeated behaviours, and consider different ways of relating to others. The focus can be on understanding where difficult feelings come from and how they play out in everyday life.
She also supports people coping with loss, parenting stresses, anger, self-esteem struggles, bipolar mood changes, attention difficulties and compassion fatigue. Additional areas of focus include attachment issues, dissociation, communication problems and obsessive or compulsive behaviours.
Sessions aim to be thoughtful and consistent. Colleen invites questions about how therapy will run and what to expect. To start, people use the site process to match and book a first session.
Psychodynamic approaches and online counselling
Psychodynamic therapy looks at how earlier relationships and life experiences shape current feelings and patterns. It helps people who want to understand repeating behaviours, persistent worries or difficult relationships by making links between past and present.The work can include talking about memories, noticing defensive reactions and exploring strong emotions that come up in sessions. This approach can be useful for problems such as anxiety, mood difficulties, relationship conflict, trauma responses and long-standing personality patterns.
Choosing an approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss how psychodynamic ideas might help and adapt the focus according to a client's needs, goals and preferences. Decisions about pace and what to focus on are collaborative.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals can use remote sessions to keep continuity of care when people are living or working in different places.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
6+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
Which concerns does she commonly work with?
She works with depression, stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and eating problems, plus related concerns such as grief, parenting stress and self-esteem.
What is her therapeutic approach and style?
She practices psychodynamic therapy. That involves looking at how past relationships and experiences influence present feelings and patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of experience working with a range of mood and relationship difficulties.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a member of the BACP and is based in the United Kingdom.
Can sessions be held in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
Yes, she does accept international clients.
How are sessions paid for?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.