Dr. Penny Brower, LCPC

Dr. Penny Brower uses practical therapy to help people change thoughts and everyday habits that affect how they live. She is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) with 34 years of experience. Her style focuses on helping clients notice patterns, try new behaviors, and make choices that fit their values.

Her work covers stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, self-esteem, grief, addiction concerns, ADHD, and intimacy-related issues. She also helps people cope with family problems, attachment and abandonment concerns, communication difficulties, and life transitions. Dr. Brower approaches these topics with direct talk and simple, actionable steps people can use between sessions.

Her background includes in-home therapy with complex families, roles in community mental health centers, and private practice. She also spent eight years with the Air National Guard helping develop programs to reduce suicide risk and build resilience. That mix of settings shaped a flexible, down-to-earth approach to problem solving.

Therapy with her emphasizes collaboration. She encourages feedback about what helps and what does not, and adjusts methods to match each person's needs. Sessions focus on practical skill building, clearer decision making, and creating routines that support better daily functioning.

People who choose Dr. Brower can expect straightforward conversation, respect for their individual story, and tools aimed at changing thoughts and habits to improve day-to-day life.

Approaches that translate to online work

Dr. Brower often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people notice unhelpful thoughts, clarify what matters most, and take small actions that align with their values. ACT can help with anxiety, depression, and feeling stuck.

She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which focuses on identifying thinking patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve daily routines. CBT can be useful for stress, mood, and habit changes.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, life demands, and preferences, and then try methods that fit. Feedback is encouraged so the plan can be adjusted over time.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the specific session options offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, avoid travel time, or choose a shorter check-in when schedules are tight. Therapists can use structured exercises, mindfulness practices, and homework assignments that translate well to remote sessions, helping people practice new habits between meetings.