Colleen DowneyBACP

Colleen Downey is a psychodynamic counsellor based in the United Kingdom. She has six years of experience helping people through depression, anxiety and stress. Colleen supports people dealing with relationship strains, trauma and eating concerns. She welcomes those navigating life changes and the particular stresses around pregnancy and childbirth. Colleen believes each person knows their story best and brings their own strengths to therapy. Sessions centre on talking through what feels hard, understanding patterns that repeat, and building small changes that make daily life easier. Her style is calm and reflective, with an emphasis on listening and gently guiding conversations. Her work often focuses on understanding how past relationships affect present feelings and behaviour. This can help with attachment issues, repeated conflict, difficulties with intimacy, and coping after separation. Colleen also addresses mood differences such as bipolar experiences, and problems linked to obsessive or compulsive thinking. She pays attention to practical stresses too, including caregiver strain, parenting challenges, anger, and compassion fatigue. People struggling with guilt, shame, or forgiveness commonly bring those issues to sessions. Colleen also supports those whose eating patterns or hoarding behaviours cause distress. People can expect steady, respectful conversations that aim to increase awareness and choice. The first step is a short matching questionnaire and arranging sessions that fit the person’s schedule. Colleen accepts international clients and works in English.

How psychodynamic work can fit into online therapy

Psychodynamic therapy looks at how earlier relationships and life events shape current feelings and patterns. It involves talking through memories, emotions and relationships to spot repeated themes and to make different choices. This approach can be helpful for issues such as attachment difficulties, repeated relationship conflict, unresolved grief and long-standing anxiety. Psychodynamic counselling also pays attention to how people respond under stress, including reactions linked to trauma, eating concerns, or mood swings. Conversations aim to make these reactions clearer so a person can decide what to change and what to accept. The therapist and client work together to find the focus that matters most to the client. Finding the right approach is part of the therapy journey. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences and practical needs and then agree a way of working that fits. This collaborative planning helps ensure sessions stay relevant and useful as circumstances change. The biography does not list specific session formats, so check the therapist's current options before booking. Online appointments can make it easier to fit sessions around work, childcare or medical appointments and reduce travel time. They can also allow shorter check-ins when a brief conversation is all that is needed, or more regular contact during intense periods. Registered or accredited professionals can adapt the pace and structure to suit each person’s life and goals.