Registration on file

Ellen Penny-Brookes, BACP

Ellen Penny-Brookes is a counsellor who helps adults explore stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and the impact of trauma.

About Ellen

Ellen Penny-Brookes is a counsellor who helps adults explore stress, anxiety, low self-esteem and the impact of trauma. She works with people facing grief, relationship strain, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting pressures and problems with concentration or attention. She aims to make the first steps into counselling straightforward and practical for a worried parent reading on their phone.

Ellen uses a mix of psychodynamic ideas and person-centred practice to understand how past experiences shape present feelings.

Background and approach

Psychodynamic thinking looks at how hidden or early life experiences influence current choices and relationships. Person-centred work focuses on listening and responding to what each person brings in the moment. She also draws on cognitive behavioural approaches when helpful to address anxious thoughts and unhelpful behaviour patterns.

Trauma-focused methods are used with people affected by abuse or other distressing events, paying attention to safety and pacing. Attachment-based ideas guide work with those who struggle with closeness, abandonment or trust. Ellen trained with a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling from the University of East Anglia and has a Masters degree with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling from the University of Essex.

She is registered with the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists, BACP. She offers sessions in person and remotely by video, phone or messaging. Sessions are organised so people can fit them into busy family lives and day-to-day routines.

Ellen aims to tailor conversations and plans to each person's needs and pace.

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.

Check on the BACP register

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 work online

Psychodynamic therapy looks at how early experiences and hidden patterns shape feelings and relationships. Online sessions let people talk through these patterns over time and notice how they turn up in day-to-day life. Attachment-based work focuses on how people form bonds and respond to closeness or abandonment, which can help with trust and relationship concerns in adulthood.

Client-centred therapy emphasises warm, non-judgemental listening and follows the pace set by the person. Together the therapist and client decide which combination of approaches best fits the presenting problem and personal preferences. Ellen treats the choice of approach as a collaborative process and adapts the work as goals and needs change.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and reading non-verbal cues, while phone calls need less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Messaging and live chat suit those who prefer writing between sessions or want brief check-ins. These options increase flexibility, make it easier to fit therapy around parenting and work, and let people continue work when travel or schedules are difficult.

Frequently asked

What issues does Ellen help with?

Ellen works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief and relationship difficulties. She also helps with eating and sleeping issues, parenting strain, ADHD and compassion fatigue.

What is her general therapeutic style?

She blends psychodynamic thinking with client-centred listening and uses practical CBT techniques when useful. The focus is on understanding patterns and then trying clearer ways of coping.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has five years of practice working with adults and younger clients. During that time she has supported people with a wide range of presenting concerns.

What professional credentials does she hold and where is she based?

She holds a Masters degree with distinction in Psychodynamic Counselling and a Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Counselling, and is registered with the BACP. She practises in the United Kingdom.

Which languages are used in sessions?

Sessions are offered in English only.

Can people outside the UK work with her?

She does not accept international clients at this time.

What session formats are available?

Sessions are available by video calls, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. This allows shorter check-ins or longer conversations depending on what fits your day.

How are costs and scheduling handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability and are paid via a subscription that can be cancelled at any time. To begin you complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to availability.