- Attachment work
- CBT techniques
- EMDR options
About Gwendolyn
Gwendolyn Downing is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Alabama with 41 years of experience. She sees adults managing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and family concerns, grief, and a wide range of life changes including blended family issues. She works with people referred from self-referral, employee assistance programs, and family court systems.
She draws on several evidence-informed methods to help people talk through what’s happening. In sessions she uses approaches such as Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as appropriate. The choice of method is guided by the person’s needs and goals.
Gwendolyn previously worked in a public agency and has over 17 years in private practice. That mix of settings informs how she structures sessions and follow-up. She helps people address practical problems like parenting strain, co-parenting with an ex, loyalty conflicts in stepfamilies, and merging household routines.
In a typical session she will listen to the immediate concern, identify patterns that keep the problem going, and practice skills or strategies that can be used between appointments. She also works with longer-term issues such as attachment injuries, abandonment concerns, and coping with chronic illness or caregiver stress.
Her approach is practical and direct. People who choose her are usually looking for clear ways to manage emotions, improve communication, and make daily life more manageable while navigating the demands of blended households and other family changes.
Therapeutic approaches used in online sessions
Many of her methods focus on patterns in relationships and skills you can practice between sessions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how past and present bonds shape reactions and helps people change how they relate to others. It is useful for attachment issues, abandonment concerns, and problems with trust.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to find practical ways to reduce anxiety or depressive symptoms. It often includes short exercises to do between appointments. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills that help when emotions feel overwhelming.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about their goals and try different methods to see what fits best. That collaborative process helps decide whether techniques from attachment work, CBT, DBT, or EMDR are a good match for the issue at hand.
The original profile does not specify which remote session formats are used, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or let someone avoid being on camera during a session. These practical benefits can help people in blended households keep consistent supports while managing family and work commitments.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
41+ years
Listed in
Alabama
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, relationship and family concerns, and specific issues like blended family challenges and parenting strain.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses several approaches including Attachment-Based Therapy, CBT, DBT, EFT, and EMDR and selects methods based on the person’s needs and goals.
How much experience does she have?
She has 41 years of clinical experience, including work in a public agency and over 17 years in private practice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Alabama and practices from that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not list specific session formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is for adults and is not emergency care, mediation or legal advice. If you or a child are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.