Ellen Penny-Brookes, BACP

Ellen Penny-Brookes is a counsellor based in the United Kingdom who helps people facing midlife questions and other major life changes. She works with adults on concerns such as anxiety, low self-esteem, grief and relationship difficulties. Ellen aims to make the first steps into therapy easier by offering a calm, respectful space to talk about what matters most to the client.

Ellen uses psychodynamic thinking to help people see patterns that affect how they feel and behave. Psychodynamic ideas look at early experiences and unconscious influences that shape relationships and choices. She also draws on client-centred approaches to keep the focus on each person’s priorities and pace.

Her background includes a Masters degree with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling from the University of Essex and a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling from the University of East Anglia. Ellen is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP. She has five years of practice experience supporting a range of difficulties.

In sessions she combines gentle listening with practical conversations about day-to-day coping. People can expect to look at patterns, try small changes, and reflect on feelings that come up between sessions. Ellen tailors the approach to each person’s needs rather than applying a single method.

She offers therapy in person and also works remotely using video, voice calls and messaging. Before starting, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions that fit their circumstances.

How Ellen’s approaches work in online therapy

Psychodynamic thinking helps people notice repeating patterns and unconscious influences that affect choices and relationships. It can be useful for tackling long-standing issues such as attachment difficulties, relationship patterns and feelings that recur over time.

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and following what the client brings to sessions. It aims to make space for people to set their own goals and to be met with non-judgemental understanding, which helps with low self-esteem, grief and major life decisions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Ellen will help clients decide which methods feel most helpful based on their needs, goals and preferences. This is a collaborative process and can change as therapy progresses.

Practical benefits of remote work include fitting sessions around daily routines and reducing travel time. Remote options can also make it easier to check in during a busy day or to choose a shorter voice call when time or bandwidth is limited. The biography lists video, voice call and messaging as ways she works remotely, but clients should confirm current session options before booking.