Ellen Penny-Brookes, BACP

Ellen Penny-Brookes is a qualified counsellor who brings over five years of professional experience to her practice. She holds a Master of Arts with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling from the University of Essex and a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling from the University of East Anglia, qualifications that inform a flexible and thoughtful approach to therapy. Ellen is registered and accredited with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), registration number 385502, and is able to work with adults, children and adolescents.

Ellen sees clients in private practice both in person and remotely, offering sessions by video, voice call and messaging. She works with a wide range of concerns and regularly supports people experiencing anxiety, burnout and low self-esteem as well as depression, relationship difficulties, trauma, loneliness, loss and grief, and issues arising in childhood and adolescence. Her clinical interests also include areas such as attachment and abandonment, body image, caregiver stress, dissociation, gender dysphoria, eating and sleeping difficulties, ADHD and compassion fatigue.

Grounded in psychodynamic thinking, Ellen pays close attention to the interacting motives and emotions that shape behaviour, including factors outside conscious awareness that often originate in early life. She combines this perspective with person-centred values, tailoring conversation and treatment plans to the individual needs of each person. Ellen approaches her work with respect, sensitivity and compassion and aims to guide, support and empower clients as they explore change and greater understanding in their lives.

Therapeutic approaches and online support

Psychodynamic therapy looks at the emotions, motives and early life experiences that often shape behaviour outside of conscious awareness. It can help people understand patterns in relationships, persistent feelings, and recurring difficulties by exploring how past experiences influence the present. Client-centered therapy emphasizes an empathetic, non-directive relationship in which the therapist offers acceptance and understanding to help the individual find their own solutions and build self-esteem and confidence. Trauma-focused therapy concentrates on the memories and responses tied to traumatic events and uses focused techniques to reduce distress and support recovery from trauma-related symptoms.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Ellen works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best fit their needs, goals and preferences, and may combine elements from different approaches to create a tailored plan.

Online therapy with Ellen is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging, giving practical flexibility for busy schedules, mobility limits or geographic constraints. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to access a registered professional from familiar surroundings, while preserving the therapeutic focus and personal connection that support meaningful progress.