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PB Portrait of Dr. Penny Brower

Dr. Penny Brower

Practical, collaborative therapy rooted in CBT

LCPC Illinois

Experience
34 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Penny

About Penny

Dr. Penny Brower draws on a pragmatic, skills-focused approach grounded in cognitive behavioral ideas to help people move through overwhelm and recurring patterns.

Background and approach

She frames therapy as a collaborative process that examines the decisions, relationships, and life events shaping current struggles, then helps clients build skills and practical strategies to respond differently. With 34 years of experience, she blends CBT with acceptance-based and attachment-informed methods to tailor treatment to each persons needs and goals.

Dr. Brower earned a doctoral degree from The University of Iowa and holds an Illinois LCPC (IL LCPC 180.001847).

Her work history spans in-home services for complex families, community mental health centers, independent practice, and an eight-year role with the Air National Guard developing programs to reduce suicide risk and increase resilience.

She favors a respectful, person-centered stance that avoids reductive labels and invites ongoing feedback so methods can be adjusted for a better fit and more effective outcomes. Areas of focus include stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, depression, ADHD, addictions, family and attachment concerns, grief, trauma, anger, and coping with life transitions.

Dr. Brower also addresses related themes such as abandonment, communication problems, codependency, infidelity, and isolation, working to help clients create more adaptive, fulfilling ways forward.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Care

Dr. Brower commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teach practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. She also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify values and develop willingness to experience difficult emotions while building meaningful action. Attachment-Based Therapy is used when relationship patterns and early bonds are central concerns, focusing on emotional connection and corrective relational experiences.

Choosing the right therapeutic approach is part of the work itself, and she treats that decision as collaborative. She will discuss different methods, consider the client's goals and preferences, and adjust the plan over time so the approach matches what is most helpful for the individual.

Online therapy with Dr. Brower is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity through life changes, and use between-session check-ins or exercises to reinforce skills learned together.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, relationship and intimacy issues, depression, ADHD, addictions, family and trauma-related problems, grief, anger, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and skills-oriented, combining cognitive behavioral ideas with acceptance and attachment-informed techniques while inviting client feedback to tailor the work.
How long has she practiced?
She brings 34 years of clinical experience across in-home family services, community mental health, independent practice, and program development with the Air National Guard.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
She holds an Illinois LCPC credential listed as IL LCPC 180.001847 and practices in Illinois.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or accept international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
In what formats are sessions available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and payment structured?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesSelf esteemDepressionADHD

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

Experience

34+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English