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Colleen Downey

Psychodynamic counsellor for mood and relationships

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  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Trauma and abuse

About Colleen

Colleen Downey works on depression, stress and anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and eating-related concerns using psychodynamic therapy. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has six years' experience in practice.

Colleen sees clients who want to understand patterns that keep causing difficulty. She uses talking therapy to look at feelings, memories and relationships that affect how people respond now. Sessions focus on what is happening in the moment and connections to past experience, rather than quick fixes.

Her way of working is reflective and conversational. Colleen helps clients notice recurring thoughts and emotional reactions. From that place, people can try different ways of responding that fit their goals.

She has particular experience with issues around intimacy, caregiving stress and attachment concerns. Other areas she addresses include self-esteem, grief, anger, obsessive-compulsive patterns and eating and food-related problems. Colleen also works with people managing mood difficulties and ADHD-related challenges.

Practical matters such as session rhythm and what to focus on are agreed together. Colleen invites questions about the process and encourages people to raise any concerns about how therapy is going. Her approach aims to help people gain clearer understanding and more choice in how they live and relate.

To start, readers are asked to use the site matching steps to make first contact and book an initial session if they wish to take the next step.

How psychodynamic work translates to online sessions

Psychodynamic therapy looks at feelings, memories and recurring relationship patterns to help people understand why they react as they do. It often involves talking about past events and noticing how these themes appear in current relationships and emotions. This approach can be helpful for depression, anxiety, grief, trauma-linked problems and issues around intimacy.

The therapist works collaboratively to find the best approach. Together they discuss what the person wants to change, how they cope now, and which methods might suit those aims. That conversation continues as therapy progresses, with adjustments made to focus and pace based on the person's needs and preferences.

The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also gives more choice about how to connect while keeping the focus on reflective conversation and exploring the patterns that matter.

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Sessions take place through BetterHelp by video, phone or messaging. We will earn a commission if you sign up.

Topics Colleen lists

Ways of working

Questions about Colleen

Does she work with anxiety?
Yes. She works with anxiety along with stress and related mood concerns.
What kind of counselling does she offer?
She offers psychodynamic therapy, which focuses on feelings, past experience and relationship patterns.
How much experience does she have?
She has six years of experience working with a range of difficulties including depression, trauma and eating issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and is based in the United Kingdom.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What session formats does she use?
The original biography did not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Use the Talk to a counsellor online button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

This page is based on Colleen's public BetterHelp listing and is not written by Colleen. It is not a recommendation. If anything here is wrong, tell us and we will correct it.

Online sessions through BetterHelp. We will earn a commission if you sign up. Talk to a counsellor online