Pennie Sheppard , BACP

Pennie Sheppard is an integrative counsellor and therapeutic body psychotherapist who works online and brings a compassionate, person-focused approach to her practice. She is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and has built more than 14 years of experience supporting people through a wide range of challenges. Her work has included supporting individuals with stress, depression, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, low motivation and self-esteem, dissociative conditions and PTSD, as well as coping with long-term illness such as multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia, learning differences, and autism spectrum conditions.

Her online service creates a supportive space for exploring painful feelings and life changes, with an emphasis on respect, sensitivity and tailored care. She adapts conversations and treatment plans to meet each person’s particular needs and pace. As a therapeutic body psychotherapist she incorporates mind-body work alongside conversational therapy, using Gestalt methods, mindfulness practice, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques to help people develop insight and practical coping skills.

She presents her approach as a gentle process of self-discovery and healing and signs her practice with the Jon Kabat-Zinn quote, "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf."

Integrative approaches for online mind-body healing

Pennie Sheppard draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to support people through emotional and practical challenges. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thought patterns, clarify personal values and take meaningful action even when emotions are difficult - it is often used for anxiety, stress and coping with long-term problems. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on providing warm, nonjudgmental presence and active listening so that a person can explore their feelings and find their own solutions - this approach supports self-esteem, grief and relationship difficulties. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) identifies the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns, which can be effective for depression, anxiety and stress management.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Pennie works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits best for their needs, goals and preferences. That collaboration may involve trying different techniques and adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit therapy into daily life and making it easier to access support across distances and time zones. These options allow therapists to meet people where they are and to adapt the pace and format of sessions to suit individual circumstances.