- Anxiety and stress
- Addiction support
- Family of origin
About Sharmen
Sharmen Rutherford is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 16 years of clinical experience in Alabama. She works with adults on stress, anxiety, addictions, depression, eating concerns, relationship difficulties, grief, sleep problems, anger, low self-esteem, ADHD, and coping with life changes. Sessions are offered in English and support a range of concerns related to family of origin issues and attachment struggles.
Sharmen uses practical methods drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, client-centered work, and mindfulness. She helps people notice unhelpful patterns and practice concrete skills to respond differently. Conversations often focus on what feels most distressing now and small steps that fit into everyday life.
In sessions she focuses on clear goals and measurable progress. She often works on managing emotions, improving sleep and coping with cravings or compulsive behaviors. When family roles and expectations from childhood still influence choices, she helps people identify those patterns and consider alternatives.
Her background includes work with substance-related concerns and trauma-related problems alongside mood and anxiety disorders. She integrates motivational interviewing techniques when readiness for change is uneven. The overall approach is collaborative and structured to build skills over time.
Clients are guided to practical exercises between sessions and straightforward ways to track change. Getting started involves a brief matching questionnaire and scheduling a first session through the online options button. Costs vary by location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify personal values and take steps aligned with those values even when uncomfortable feelings are present. It can be useful for anxiety, avoidance, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with behavioral experiments to reduce symptoms like anxiety and low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can help when emotions feel overwhelming.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit best for their goals, needs, and preferences. That choice can change over time as progress is reviewed and new challenges come up.
Confirm the specific online session formats before booking, since the biography does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also lets the therapist assign practical exercises and follow up on skill practice between meetings. Those practical benefits can make therapy easier to use alongside everyday responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
Alabama, Tennessee
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
She works with adults on anxiety, depression, addictions, eating concerns, grief, sleep problems, anger, ADHD, and other life stressors. Family of origin issues and attachment problems are also listed among her focus areas.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style combines client-centered listening with practical, skills-based approaches like CBT, DBT, ACT, and mindfulness. Sessions emphasize clear goals and concrete strategies to change unhelpful patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience working with substance-related concerns, trauma-related problems, mood and anxiety issues, and eating-related concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds the credentials LPC-MHSP and LPC and practices in Alabama.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Confirm current session options before booking by using the online matching process, as the biography does not specify formats.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.