- Psychodynamic approach
- Person-centred work
- CBT techniques
About Ellen
Ellen Penny-Brookes is a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) with five years of practice. She holds a Master’s degree with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling and a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling. Ellen works with adults, children and adolescents on a range of concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, loss and grief, and guilt and shame.
Ellen draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at how early experiences shape current feelings and patterns. She pays attention to the ways people relate to themselves and others, and how hidden feelings can show up as anxiety, low self-esteem or difficulty in relationships. She also uses client-centred principles to keep conversations focused on the person’s experience and priorities.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques are offered alongside psychodynamic work when practical strategies are useful. That can include looking at unhelpful thinking and trying small changes to reduce stress or improve sleep and coping. Trauma-focused methods are available where past events continue to disrupt daily life.
Ellen offers sessions in person and remotely by video, voice call and messaging from her private practice in the United Kingdom. Sessions are aimed at helping people talk through present problems and uncover the patterns that keep those problems repeating. She has worked with issues such as addiction, eating and food-related concerns, parenting stress and caregiver strain.
If someone decides to begin, they follow a short matching questionnaire and book a first session. Fees vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How her approaches translate to online work
Psychodynamic work looks at the past and how early experiences shape current feelings and relationships. Online sessions can use this approach to notice patterns in how someone responds now and to talk through recurrent themes such as abandonment, attachment issues or long-held shame.Client-centred therapy focuses on the person’s lived experience and priorities. In remote sessions this means the counsellor follows the client’s lead, listening closely and reflecting what is said so the person can make sense of difficult feelings in their own words.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) brings practical steps and experiments to test unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. Online sessions can include short exercises between meetings to try new ways of coping with anxiety, sleep problems or low mood.
Finding the right blend of approaches is part of the work. Ellen will collaborate with each person to decide which methods suit their needs, goals and preferences. That choice is reviewed as therapy progresses so the plan can change if something isn’t helpful.
The biography notes she offers in-person and remote work by video, voice call and messaging, so confirm which formats are currently offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, or avoid travel on difficult days. They can also mean fewer technical demands if someone prefers voice rather than video.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
Ellen works with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family problems, addiction, eating and sleeping issues, and guilt and shame.
How would she approach feelings of shame or guilt?
She uses psychodynamic thinking to explore where those feelings come from and client-centred conversation to focus on what matters now. CBT techniques may be used to try practical changes that ease daily distress.
How much experience does she have?
She has five years of practice and completed a Master’s degree with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling after a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling.
What are her professional credentials and where is she based?
She is registered with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and works from the United Kingdom.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she take clients from other countries?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are used?
Her biography states she works in person and remotely via video, voice call and messaging.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.