Dr. Downs has gone out of her way to make me feel comfortable and understood from the very first appointment. She is flexible with her schedule and session style (chat, phone or video) however she will challenge you and nudge you if you need it and she thinks you can handle it.
Dr. Julie Downs, LCSW
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Julie is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 4.5 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Julie. View 10 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Missouri
Recent reviews
Dr. Downs is an extremely attentive and compassionate therapist. She has a natural and intuitive understanding of how to support me uniquely on any given day. She knows when to adjust the modality planned for an appointment and meet me where I am at, knowing that needs can change quite frequently when you are struggling. I feel extremely confident in Dr. Downs' knowledge and expertise and feel extremely well-supported by all the different types of support and therapy she offers.
More about Julie
- 16 years' experience
- Female
- LCSW
My name is Julie Downs and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri. I earned my Masters Degree from the University of Missouri/Columbia in 2000. I earned my Certification from the University of Indiana in career counseling in 2012. I have worked in various settings over the past 26 years that include outpatient mental health and private practice settings serving children, families, and adults. I have also worked in educational settings from higher education to elementary and secondary education.
My areas of expertise include trauma, depression, anxiety, family conflict, relationships, and parenting. I enjoy working with children, but have also worked with adults, specifically when addressing family needs. I definitely take a holistic and systemic approach when looking at family dynamics, relationships, interactions, and functioning. I look at my relationships with clients as a partnership. I am very resourceful and creative in my approaches so if I do not have the knowledge or information, I will locate it for my clients. I take a non-judgmental stance because I believe diversity is what enriches my life and those around me. I also adhere to my professional code of ethics where taking an unbiased approach is a necessity.
I am extremely energetic and creative in my approach with therapy. I strive to keep my clients engaged providing various options and encouraging them to overcome challenges, fears, or reservations about trying new things. I do regular check-ins to make sure my approach is having a positive impact on my clients' lives and that there is a continuation of progress towards goals. My clients are treated with dignity and respect, but I will be assertive in a respective manner when addressing patterns of behaviors that are impeding progress.
Cognitive behavioral approaches are the foundation of my therapy, but I also use eclectic interventions through trauma, solution focused, and client centered modalities, making adjustments that fit my clients' communication and personality styles and needs. I am also a trained Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) therapist.
I believe continuity of care and ongoing support is crucial in therapy services and check my messages minimally three times a day. I look forward to working with you and forging a partnership in helping you reach your goals!
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Parenting issues
Depression
Addictions
LGBT
Relationship issues
Grief
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Adoption and foster care
Attachment issues
Blended family issues
Caregiver issues and stress
Codependency
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Control issues
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Drug and alcohol addiction
Eating and food-related issues
Emptiness
Family problems
Fatherhood issues
Forgiveness
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
Impulsivity
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Mood disorders
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Personality disorders
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Self-harm
Self-love
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues
Treatment Approaches
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Dr. Julie Downs's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1023031325.
- LCSW · Missouri · 2003027949 · Expires September 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling allows you to receive care from a mental health practitioner via phone, video chat, or instant messaging. It is convenient for those who may have trouble getting to or would prefer not to have in-person therapy appointments. Starting at $65 per week, online counseling is generally more affordable than in-person counseling. A study by researchers at University of California, Berkeley found that online counseling can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy while being more convenient, affordable, and accessible.
Reviews for Dr. Julie Downs
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Dr. Downs has gone out of her way to make me feel comfortable and understood from the very first appointment. She is flexible with her schedule and session style (chat, phone or video) however she will challenge you and nudge you if you need it and she thinks you can handle it.
Dr. Downs is an extremely attentive and compassionate therapist. She has a natural and intuitive understanding of how to support me uniquely on any given day. She knows when to adjust the modality planned for an appointment and meet me where I am at, knowing that needs can change quite frequently when you are struggling. I feel extremely confident in Dr. Downs' knowledge and expertise and feel extremely well-supported by all the different types of support and therapy she offers.
Dr. Downs is the best! Intuitive, wise, clearly experienced. Very attentive and very supportive of a variety of life’s challenges. Would highly recommend!
I struggled to find a therapist who could accommodate my needs until I came across Dr Julie Downs. I am someone who can't always communicate my issues verbally, when things get too tough I shut down so I was excited to see Betterhelp had a live chat function however many therapists only offered live chat as a starting point. Julie allowed me to progress to video sessions when I was ready and never pushed when I verbally shutdown, she is happy for me to pull back to live chat when I need to and change direction with what we are working on as things come up. She is quick to respond to messages throughout the week and I look forward to our weekly sessions, no matter how hard I know they are going to be.
Dr.Downs is absolutely amazing. She really sees me. She is compassionate and so knowledgeable in the work she does. I feel very supported by her. I am very grateful to her for helping me through some pretty tough transitional periods in my life. I will recommend her to everyone!!
Julie Downs helped me gain the tools and confidence I needed to leave an abusive living-situation, and helped me to use the experience to process buried childhood trauma that had been affecting me daily. I am in a much better place in life thanks to my work with her. She made me feel safe and seen as a transgender non-binary person, and as an autistic person learning to unmask and be myself. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking an empathetic, supportive, open-minded guide. This year has been life-changing and I’m extremely grateful to Julie for our work together.
Dr. Down's is an amazingly empathetic therapist who brings a wealth of relevant tools. She is personable, accessible, and always one step ahead of me which is invaluable. I look forward to what I will learn with and from her.
I would highly recommend Dr. Downs. She is warm, professional, experienced, and sentient. She actively engaged me in our sessions, takes note of goals and has done a wonderful job 'meeting me where I am at' while gently guiding me toward my therapeutic goals. I look forward to continue my journey of healing and personal growth with Dr. Downs. If you are on the fence about starting therapy or restarting therapy with someone who is truly capable and a healer, look no further. Thank you Dr. Downs and BetterHelp for pairing me with her.
Very compassionate and friendly, offers many tactics, takes notes.
Dr. Downs is amazing, she makes me feel extremely supported and I don’t know why i didn’t reach out to BetterHelp sooner. I’m so happy I got paired with her, she’s really doing all that she can to help me
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr. Julie Downs offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Dr. Julie Downs works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Dr. Julie Downs speak?
Dr. Julie Downs speaks English.
How many years of experience does Dr. Julie Downs have?
Dr. Julie Downs has 16 years of experience.
Where is Dr. Julie Downs licensed to practice?
Dr. Julie Downs is licensed to practice in Missouri.
Does Dr. Julie Downs accept clients outside of the United States?
Yes, Dr. Julie Downs accepts clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Dr. Julie Downs offer?
Dr. Julie Downs offers clients Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Dr. Julie Downs?
Dr. Julie Downs can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Dr. Julie Downs?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.