Ellen Penny-Brookes

Ellen Penny-Brookes is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing strong emotions and life shifts. She works with issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, anger, grief and trauma. Ellen uses a warm, respectful style to help people untangle painful patterns and discover clearer ways to cope.

She holds a Master’s degree with distinction in Psychodynamic counselling from Essex University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling from the University of East Anglia. Ellen is registered with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists, BACP, and has five years of practice experience.

In sessions Ellen draws on psychodynamic ideas to notice how early experiences shape present feelings and relationships. She also uses client-centred listening to create space for people to speak without judgement and cognitive behavioural techniques when looking at thoughts and coping strategies.

People can expect a calm, patient approach that focuses on understanding what matters most to them. Ellen says she will work alongside each person to tailor the conversation and plan to their needs. She aims to help people feel more in control of overwhelming emotions and make practical changes.

She has experience with a wide range of concerns, including parenting stress, addictions, sleep and eating difficulties, ADHD and issues around gender and sexual identity. Ellen offers both in-person and remote sessions, and supports people who want to look more closely at why certain patterns keep repeating.

How Ellen’s approaches translate to online work

Psychodynamic therapy looks at how early experiences shape current feelings and relationships. Online sessions can use this approach to notice repeated patterns and make sense of emotional reactions over time.

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening without judgement and helping people find their own solutions. That approach works well online because it depends on careful, empathic conversation rather than worksheets or exercises.

Cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT, examines unhelpful thoughts and tests practical coping strategies. In remote sessions CBT techniques can be introduced and practised between meetings to build new habits.

Choosing the right approach is part of therapy. The therapist will work with each person to decide which mix of methods fits their needs, goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as progress is made.

If you are considering online sessions, check the current session options before booking. The biography indicates Ellen offers in-person and remote work using video, voice call and messaging, but confirming the exact formats is recommended. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so people can access help from their local area.