- Family of origin issues
- Attachment patterns
- Stress and anxiety
About Penny
Dr. Penny Brower is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 34 years of experience. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, relationships, self-esteem, depression, ADHD, addictions, LGBT concerns, grief, anger, and coping with life changes. She also addresses family issues including family of origin concerns and attachment-related patterns.
Dr. Brower emphasizes understanding how past family roles and early patterns shape present choices. She helps people identify recurring responses that feel automatic and then practices different ways of responding. Sessions focus on practical skills, clearer thinking, and steady changes in behavior rather than labels.
Her background includes in-home work with complex families, time in community mental health centers, private practice, and eight years developing a program for the Air National Guard that aimed to reduce suicide risk and increase resilience. That mix informs a pragmatic approach that combines conversation with skill-building exercises.
In sessions she uses methods drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and attachment-based ideas. She also draws on client-centered principles and relationship work from the Gottman Method when relationship patterns are relevant. The work is collaborative and adjusts based on what helps most.
People who come for help often want to change a pattern learned in childhood, reduce anxiety around relationships, or manage strong emotions more effectively. Dr. Brower asks for regular feedback so she can shift methods when something is not helpful. The focus is on clearer choices and steadier day-to-day functioning.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting swept up in them, then choosing actions that reflect personal values. This helps with anxiety, avoidance, and feeling stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical strategies to test and change unhelpful patterns. It is often useful for anxiety, depression, and problem-focused change. Attachment-Based Therapy highlights how early relationship experiences shape expectations and responses in adult relationships, and it helps people experiment with new ways of connecting.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That may mean combining ACT, CBT, and attachment-informed techniques and adjusting based on regular feedback about what helps.
Confirm the specific session formats available before booking, as the biography does not list them. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - for example shorter check-ins during a break, avoiding travel time, or using phone-only sessions when video is difficult. Licensed professionals use these options to help clients keep consistent progress while matching sessions to daily routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
34+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and self-esteem issues, plus depression, ADHD, addictions, grief, anger, and coping with life changes. Family of origin issues and attachment concerns are also listed specialties.
What is her therapeutic style?
She combines practical, skills-based methods with reflective conversation. Approaches include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, CBT, attachment-informed work, client-centered methods, and Gottman-informed relationship techniques.
How much experience does she have?
She has 34 years of clinical experience working in in-home settings, community mental health centers, private practice, and program development with the Air National Guard.
What credentials and where does she practice?
She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (IL LCPC) and practices in Illinois.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified in the provided biography; confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.