Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
In this giant Carnival of Life, are you on the Roller Coaster full of ups and downs, on the repetitive slow-motion Carousel, on the Tilt-A-Whirl feeling unbalanced and squashed by outside forces, in the House of Horrors where every view is distorted and you can hardly find the exit, or on the Raging River where everyone else stays dry while you get drenched?
Are you here by choice and enjoying the adventure, hanging on for dear life and fearing disaster ahead, or confused about how someone was able to drag you here against your better judgement?
Though everyone’s Carnival visit is unique, if you invite me to join this part of your journey, I can help you explore the decision-making processes and life events that have led you to this place. I will assist you in building skills and finding resources to thrive beyond the dangerous curves, the jarring stops and reverses, and the nauseating spins and loops. You will be empowered to choose and create more positive, adaptive ways forward, to better enjoy the ride and have a more fulfilling adventure.
Because the best outcomes are achieved with a good client/counselor fit, I always welcome feedback regarding what has been helpful, as well as not helpful, so that methods can be adapted to achieve the best results.
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. I received my doctoral degree from The University of Iowa and I have worked for over 30 years helping individuals and couples become more intentional and response-able in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
I began my career doing in-home therapy with complex, multi-problem families, and I have worked in Community Mental Health Centers and Private Practice settings. In addition, I worked for 8 years with the Air National Guard, helping to institute a new program that focused on reducing suicide risk and increasing resilience, while reducing the stigma of using mental health services to maximize personal functioning.
When describing people, my least favorite word is NORMAL. I believe that each individual is unique, and deserves to be treated in caring and respectful ways that help them grow, versus being treated like a diagnostic label that needs to be fixed. It is the difference between:
“It sounds like you may be struggling with depressed feelings. Let’s explore the conditions that seem connected to when those feelings hit really hard, compared to when they seem to lighten up.”
versus
“You are depressed. Here is what you need to do to change.”
Licensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Dr. Penny Brower offers warm, experienced guidance to people navigating difficult stretches of life. She invites clients to consider where they are in a metaphorical carnival of experience – whether riding sudden ups and downs, moving through repetitive patterns, feeling tossed by outside forces, facing distorted perspectives, or being overwhelmed while others seem unaffected. Her approach helps people examine the decisions and events that led them to that point and to build practical skills and supports for moving forward.
With 34 years of clinical work, Dr. Brower emphasizes empowering clients to choose healthier, more adaptive ways of living rather than applying reductive labels. She prefers to explore the conditions that make difficult feelings more intense and what helps them ease, offering collaborative, tailored interventions that shift patterns and increase functioning and enjoyment of life. She also welcomes ongoing feedback about what is and is not helpful so treatment can be adapted for the best fit.
Dr. Brower holds a doctoral degree from The University of Iowa and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois – a credential that reflects advanced training and state licensure (IL LCPC 180.001847). Her clinical career began with in-home therapy for complex, multi-problem families and has included roles in community mental health centers and private practice. She also spent eight years working with the Air National Guard to develop a program aimed at reducing suicide risk, increasing resilience, and decreasing the stigma of using mental health services.
For many common struggles – such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, or major life transitions – online therapy can be as effective as traditional in-person care. Research and clinical practice show that virtual sessions work well for a wide range of everyday concerns.
One clear benefit is flexibility. People can choose the format that fits their life best: video appointments, phone sessions, live chat, or messaging through an app. Those options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to connect in the way that feels most comfortable.
Licensed professionals provide online therapy, and if a different therapeutic fit is needed, it is possible to change therapists. For many individuals, teletherapy offers a practical, accessible way to get professional support while maintaining continuity of care and adapting treatment to individual needs.
© All rights reserved.