Shanna Downing
Thoughtful, practical therapy for life transitions
LCSW Utah
- Experience
- 13 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Career
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Shanna
Shanna Downing is a licensed clinical social worker who uses cognitive behavioral therapy alongside client-centered and mindfulness approaches to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, career challenges, depression, and major life transitions.
Background and approach
With an LCSW credential and 13 years of clinical experience, she frames therapy as a collaborative process, tailoring conversations and treatment plans to each person's circumstances and goals. Her work also includes hospice and end-of-life counseling for those navigating advanced illness and bereavement.
Shanna emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion in therapeutic work, meeting clients where they are while offering practical strategies and emotional support. She combines evidence-informed techniques such as CBT with solution-focused interventions and motivational interviewing to help clients identify actionable steps, shift unhelpful thinking patterns, and build coping skills.
Located in Utah and licensed to practice, she offers a blend of compassionate listening and structured tools to support clients pursuing greater well-being.
Online approaches grounded in CBT and client-centered care
Shanna uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors; CBT is practical and often focuses on developing coping skills for issues like anxiety, depression, and stress. She also practices client-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathetic listening and tailoring the conversation to the client's perspective so individuals feel heard and understood. Mindfulness therapy is another tool she integrates, teaching present-moment awareness and stress-reduction techniques that can complement cognitive and behavioral work.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to explore goals, preferences, and what feels most useful in early sessions, adjusting methods over time so treatment fits the client rather than forcing a single model.
Online therapy with Shanna is offered through multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provides flexibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or medical appointments. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and access therapeutic tools and support from home or other convenient locations while working together on practical strategies and emotional processing.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Licensed
Utah, Nevada
Languages
English