Gwendolyn Downing, LPC
Alabama LPC with 41 years experience
- Trauma and addiction support
- Family and relationship care
- Flexible online sessions
About Gwendolyn Downing
Gwendolyn Downing is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Alabama with 41 years of clinical experience. She holds a state counseling license and combines long-term public agency work with an extended period in private practice - including many years serving clients referred through self-referral, employee assistance programs, and family court systems.
Throughout her career she has worked with individuals facing depression, anxiety, chemical and process addictions, trauma and abuse, and a wide range of family and life challenges. Her practice also addresses relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, parenting and blended family issues, eating and body image struggles, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and mood-related diagnoses such as bipolar disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
She draws from multiple evidence-informed strategies, selecting approaches to match each person’s strengths and needs. Techniques she uses include Emotionally-Focused Therapy, cognitive behavioral methods, trauma-focused interventions, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques. She emphasizes the whole person rather than labels, aiming to support clients in building on existing strengths and moving toward meaningful change. Reaching out for help requires courage and commitment, and she welcomes the opportunity to be part of a client’s journey toward recovery and growth.
Throughout her career she has worked with individuals facing depression, anxiety, chemical and process addictions, trauma and abuse, and a wide range of family and life challenges. Her practice also addresses relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, parenting and blended family issues, eating and body image struggles, caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, and mood-related diagnoses such as bipolar disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
She draws from multiple evidence-informed strategies, selecting approaches to match each person’s strengths and needs. Techniques she uses include Emotionally-Focused Therapy, cognitive behavioral methods, trauma-focused interventions, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques. She emphasizes the whole person rather than labels, aiming to support clients in building on existing strengths and moving toward meaningful change. Reaching out for help requires courage and commitment, and she welcomes the opportunity to be part of a client’s journey toward recovery and growth.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Attachment-Based Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Gottman Method Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Gwendolyn Downing have?
Gwendolyn Downing has 41 years of experience.
Is Gwendolyn Downing a licensed therapist?
Yes, she is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). License details: AL LPC 1393.
In which languages does Gwendolyn Downing provide therapy?
Gwendolyn Downing provides therapy in English.
Where is Gwendolyn Downing located?
She is located in Alabama.
How can I work with Gwendolyn Downing as my therapist?
You can work with Gwendolyn Downing through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Gwendolyn Downing work with international clients?
Gwendolyn Downing does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Gwendolyn Downing cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, just click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Just click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Approach-Focused Online Therapy for Practical Results
Gwendolyn Downing integrates several therapeutic approaches to address emotional, relational, and trauma-related concerns. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds shape current relationships and helps clients develop more secure, supportive ways of connecting with others, which is useful for attachment issues, abandonment concerns, and family work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, offering practical tools for managing anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on understanding and reshaping emotional responses within close relationships to improve communication and intimacy.
Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. She works collaboratively with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and to tailor methods that fit each person’s situation. Clients are invited to explore different strategies and decide together which techniques feel most helpful.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility for varied schedules and life demands. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access support from home or work, and fit therapy into busy routines while still working with experienced, licensed professionals and therapists.