Registration on file

Ellen Penny-Brookes, BACP

Ellen Penny-Brookes offers calm, steady support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low self‑esteem or loss.

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About Ellen

Ellen Penny-Brookes offers calm, steady support for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, low self‑esteem or loss. She speaks plainly and listens closely to help clients make sense of difficult feelings. Ellen uses gentle, reflective conversation to help people find clearer ways of coping with everyday pressures.

She draws on psychodynamic ideas to look at how past experiences shape present feelings and relationships. That approach helps when patterns repeat or when loneliness, grief or childhood hurts keep resurfacing.

Background and approach

Ellen also uses client‑centred ways of working to place the client's experience at the centre of sessions. Practical tools from cognitive behavioural therapy are offered when useful, for tackling anxious thoughts, sleep problems or difficulties with eating. Trauma‑focused ideas are used carefully for those who have experienced abuse or upsetting events.

Ellen adapts what she does to suit each person’s needs rather than using a fixed formula. She trained at the University of Essex where she completed a Masters degree with distinction in psychodynamic counselling and holds 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.

Ellen works from the United Kingdom and provides sessions both in person and remotely. Remote options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text‑based messaging. She aims to make the first steps straightforward and clear for anyone thinking about therapy.

Details from the counsellor's public professional profile · registration number listed

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Registration

Body	Registration number	Expires
BACP	385502	August 2026

Registration details are as listed on the counsellor's public profile. You can check any number with the registering body.

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Sessions and payment

Sessions are held online through our partner platform, by video, phone or messaging depending on the counsellor.

Cost Costs are shown on the partner platform before you commit. If cost is a concern, ask about reduced-fee options.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Ellen lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Self esteem
Addictions
LGBT
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Eating disorders
Sleeping disorders
Parenting issues
Anger management
Depression
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Attachment issues
Body image
Caregiver issues and stress
Co-morbidity
Commitment issues
Communication problems
Dissociation
Divorce and separation
Eating and food-related issues
Emptiness
Family problems
Gender dysphoria
Guilt and shame
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Phobias
Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
Post-traumatic stress
Self-harm
Self-love
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Ways of working Ellen names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each counsellor lists and does not check training records.

How Ellen’s approaches translate to online therapy

Attachment‑based thinking focuses on how early relationships shape current ways of relating. In sessions this can mean noticing patterns in close relationships and working out small changes that make relationships feel safer and clearer. Client‑centred work keeps the client’s experience central and relies on curious, non‑judgemental listening to help people find their own answers and build confidence.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic conversation. Ellen will work collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person’s goals and preferences, and she will adjust the balance of reflective work and practical techniques as the work progresses.

Online options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text‑based messaging. Video is useful when visual contact helps the conversation, phone calls suit people who need lower bandwidth or are with limited time, chat can be helpful for shorter check‑ins, and messaging supports ongoing reflection between sessions. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving and daily life while keeping the same therapeutic aims.

Frequently asked

What kinds of problems does Ellen help with?

She helps people with stress, anxiety, low self‑esteem, depression and grief, as well as trauma, relationship and family concerns and difficulties with sleep or eating.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is reflective and person centred, combining psychodynamic thinking with practical cognitive behavioural techniques when helpful.

What is her experience in counselling?

She has five years of practice experience working with a broad range of presenting issues.

What credentials and location apply to her practice?

She holds a Masters degree with distinction in psychodynamic counselling and a postgraduate certificate in person‑centred counselling, and is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). She practices in the United Kingdom.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available online?

Remote sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text‑based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.

How are costs and subscriptions handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin if I want to work with her?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.