Vanessa Downing PhD

(she/her)

Accepting Clients

I offer insight-driven, goal-oriented therapy for high achievers, leaders, and those balancing multiple high intensity roles.

Psychologist in Pennsylvania

Free Initial Consultation

Book consultation

Free 15-minute call, no obligation.

Services

  • Individual

About My Clients

My clients are physicians, nurses, and others who work in medical settings, as well as professionals in all sorts of mission-driven fields like law, education, small business, and the arts. They tend to have high empathy for others, and high expectations of themselves. I am licensed in PA and DE, and offer services across all 34 PSYPACT states (https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap).

My Background and Approach

As the former director of the Center for WorkLife Wellbeing, I learned that physicians, nurses, and others in healthcare are among the most resilient people on the planet! As a burnout and workplace well-being expert and an executive coach, I've seen those "up for anything" traits present in leaders and high achievers across professions. High achievers typically don't need help getting tougher, but they often do benefit from dedicated time to reflect on their lives with someone they can trust. I bring cutting-edge, evidence-based psychological principles out of the "ivory tower" and make them concrete, actionable tools my clients can use to create sustainable lives aligned with their own values.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

High achievers are used to moving through obstacles that keep others stuck. They are often experts at hitting the mute button on their own needs and powering through to meet the needs of their clients, patients, team members, family members, friends, and organizations. So when they come up against problems that stump them, it can feel jarring, frustrating, and even lonely. High achievers have unique needs when they feel burned out, stuck, or lost: sensitive, highly attuned support balanced by attentive, appropriate interventions that help them move forward. My clients are the expert architects of their own lives, and our work together helps create time and space for them to turn up the volume on the aspects of the self that can help them feel grounded again, and bring all of who they are into congruence.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

Coaching Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Humanistic Therapy

Other Techniques

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment Theory
  • Coaching
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Contemplative Therapy
  • Culturally Sensitive Therapy
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Feminist Therapy
  • Humanistic Therapy
  • Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Integrative Therapy

Issues I Treat

Specialties

Burnout

Other Issues

  • Anxiety
  • Burnout
  • Career Counseling
  • Depression

Client Focus

Languages
English

Qualifications

License
PhD, State of Pennsylvania · #PS019422
Years in practice
17 years

I offer online counseling in the following states:

Hours & Availability

New clients welcome
Currently accepting new clients
Telehealth
Available

At A Glance

  • Experience: 17 years of practice
  • Languages: English
  • Rate: $200 - 250/session

Reach out to Vanessa