- Empathetic listener
- Practical support
- Client-focused
About Ellen
Ellen Penny-Brookes is a BACP-registered counsellor who helps people facing anxiety, stress and low self-esteem. She works with adults, children and adolescents and often supports those dealing with trauma, grief, relationship difficulties and burnout. Her tone is empathetic and steady, aimed at people who feel overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.
Ellen trained in psychodynamic counselling and holds a Masters degree with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling from Essex University. She also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling at the University of East Anglia. These backgrounds shape how she listens and responds in sessions.
In sessions she uses psychodynamic thinking to look at how past experiences influence current feelings and behaviour. She also draws on person-centred ideas that place the client's perspective at the heart of the work. Cognitive and trauma-focused techniques may be used alongside these approaches when helpful.
Her practice includes in-person consultations and remote work by video, voice call and messaging. Ellen aims to tailor conversations and the plan of work to each person's needs, focusing on steps that feel manageable in everyday life.
She explains things plainly and offers steady support as people work through difficult emotions and practical problems. Starting therapy can feel risky, and she aims to make the first steps as clear and straightforward as possible.
How Ellen's approaches translate to online therapy
Psychodynamic therapy looks at how early experiences shape current feelings and behaviour. In plain terms it helps people spot patterns that repeat in relationships and daily life so they can make different choices. Person-centred (client-centred) work prioritises the person's perspective and aims to create a warm, non-judgemental space where people are listened to and respected.These ways of working can be combined with practical, trauma-focused ideas when needed. Ellen will talk with each person about goals and preferences, and together they will decide which approaches feel most useful. Finding the right mix is a collaborative process rather than a fixed prescription.
The biography notes that Ellen offers in-person consultations as well as remote sessions by video, voice call and messaging, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins by voice when that suits better. It also lets people use messaging for brief updates between sessions if that is helpful. Registered or accredited professionals and therapists commonly adapt their methods to work well over different formats, and Ellen aims to match the approach to a person's needs and life circumstances.
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 issues does Ellen commonly help with?
She works with a wide range of concerns including anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, depression, trauma, grief, relationship difficulties, eating and sleeping problems, and ADHD-related challenges.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style blends psychodynamic thinking with person-centred care, focusing on past influences and the client's own experience while using practical techniques when useful.
What is her professional background and experience?
She has five years of practice, a Masters degree with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling from Essex University, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is registered with the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and practises in the United Kingdom.
Which languages and international arrangements are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently taking international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Her biography states she works in person and remotely by video, voice call and messaging; please confirm the current session options before booking.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin the process of working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.