About Doreen
Doreen Gaffney is a licensed mental health counselor who focuses on anxiety and related concerns. She draws on 11 years of clinical experience to help people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, worry, low mood, or trauma. Her approach is warm and direct, and she aims to make the first steps into therapy easier for people who are nervous about starting.
Doreen listens first, then tailors each session to what the person needs that day.
Background and approach
She helps people with anxiety symptoms such as panic attacks, social anxiety, and excessive worry, and she also works with depression, self-esteem struggles, and relationship difficulties. She addresses communication problems, guilt and shame, isolation, and questions about life purpose as part of the work. Sessions are practical and goal-focused while still honoring each person's pace.
Doreen offers clear techniques to manage distress and builds skills for handling triggers and difficult feelings. She pays attention to past traumatic experiences and how they affect present-day reactions and relationships. Her practice style emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion.
Meetings are shaped around each individual's situation and goals rather than a one-size-fits-all plan. Doreen encourages people to notice small changes and to build on them over time. Doreen is licensed in Washington as an LMHC.
She conducts sessions in English and uses a mix of conversation and skill-building to help people feel steadier and more able to face everyday challenges.
Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life
Two evidence-based approaches commonly used to help with anxiety and trauma are skills-based therapies that teach concrete techniques for managing worry and exposure-based methods that help reduce avoidance. Skills-focused work helps people learn breathing, grounding, and thought-management strategies to calm intense moments and reduce daily stress. Exposure-style work gently guides people to face feared situations or memories so anxiety has less power over everyday choices.Finding the right mix of techniques is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before, then try approaches that fit the person’s needs. Adjustments are made over time so the plan stays practical and useful.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different situations. Video is useful for in-depth conversations and skill practice, while phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for brief updates, homework check-ins, or when writing feels easier than talking. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into work, school, or family schedules while keeping care consistent.
Questions people ask
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
What is her therapeutic style like?
How much clinical experience does she have?
What credentials and location apply to this therapist?
In which languages are sessions offered?
What session formats are available?
How is cost handled for sessions?
How do I begin working with this therapist?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Experience
- 11 years
- Licensed
- Washington
- Languages
- English
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.