Shanna Downing, LCSW

Shanna Downing is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Utah with additional licensure in Nevada. With 13 years of clinical experience, she focuses on helping people navigate stress and anxiety, process grief, manage depression, and address career challenges and life transitions. In addition to these areas, she brings specialized experience in hospice and end-of-life counseling, supporting individuals and families through emotionally complex moments.

She approaches each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and adapts conversations and treatment plans to reflect each client’s unique needs and goals. Her style emphasizes collaborative problem solving and practical strategies, while also honoring the emotional realities that accompany loss and change. Whether a client seeks short-term coping tools or deeper work around longstanding patterns, she works to create a pathway that feels relevant and achievable.

Shanna believes taking the first step toward greater well-being requires courage, and she positions herself as a steady partner in that process. As an LCSW, she combines clinical training with real-world experience to help clients build resilience, clarify priorities, and move forward with intention.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Shanna Downing draws from client-centered therapy, which prioritizes the client’s perspective and creates a respectful, nonjudgmental space where people can explore their values and goals. This approach is useful for individuals seeking greater self-understanding and support through life transitions.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a practical method that helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is often effective for treating anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills to shift patterns that contribute to distress.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shanna collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts interventions over time so the plan remains relevant and responsive.

Online therapy with Shanna is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to connect from home or during busy days, supporting consistent progress without sacrificing accessibility.