Founder

Doreen Downing, Ph.D.

Dr. Doreen Downing is a psychologist, transformational communication expert, and founder of Essential Speaking. With over thirty years of experience working with individuals, couples, and groups, she has dedicated her life to helping people find their voice, overcome fear, and speak with confidence and authenticity.

As the Training Director of Speaking Circles® International, Dr. Downing leads seminars and certification programs worldwide, empowering individuals to communicate more naturally and powerfully. Through her work, she has trained facilitators across North America, Europe, India, and Asia, expanding a global movement rooted in authentic connection and fearless expression.

What makes her work especially powerful is that it comes from lived experience. Early in her career—while helping others overcome their fears—Dr. Downing carried a hidden struggle of her own: a deep fear of public speaking. Her personal journey led her to discover that true confidence doesn’t come from performance techniques, but from being fully present and connected to one’s Essential Self.

Her path began with a degree in Sociology in the 1960s, followed by service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Malaysia, where she witnessed firsthand how communication and relationship challenges lie at the heart of many human struggles. This insight inspired her to pursue a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and later establish her private practice in the 1980s.

Today, Dr. Downing’s mission is to facilitate deep personal and professional transformation. She helps individuals dissolve stage fright and reclaim their natural voice through private coaching, Speaking Circles®, Fearless Speaking Workshops, and self-guided e-courses. Her approach goes beyond traditional public speaking training—guiding people to reconnect with their inner presence, confidence, and authentic expression.

She is also the host of the podcast Find Your Voice, Change Your Life, where she shares insights, stories, and tools to support others on their journey toward fearless communication.