- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness techniques
About Sharmen
Sharmen Rutherford is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 16 years of clinical experience in Alabama. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, depression, grief, relationship issues, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, and difficulty coping with life changes. She also lists coaching and compassion fatigue among her areas of focus and provides help around ADHD concerns.
Sharmen uses a mix of practical approaches in sessions. Her work draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness therapy. In practice this looks like identifying values, learning skills to manage difficult thoughts and feelings, and trying small behavior changes between meetings.
She commonly addresses attachment and family of origin issues, body image and eating-related problems, codependency, commitment and control concerns, dissociation, and the effects of domestic violence or divorce. She also supports people working through drug and alcohol addiction, first responder stresses, and questions of forgiveness.
Sharmen’s experience includes helping people with co-occurring disorders and trauma-related symptoms. She is active in professional associations related to addiction, trauma, and eating disorder work. Sessions focus on clear goals, skills practice, and gradual steps people can use outside of therapy.
Sessions are conducted in English and based in Alabama. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the site.
How therapeutic approaches shape online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people name their core values and take actions that align with those values, even when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings appear. It can be useful for people wrestling with life direction, emptiness, or big changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns; it often helps with anxiety, depression, sleep, and eating-related concerns. Mindfulness therapy trains attention to the present moment and can reduce reactivity, supporting work on stress, anger, and trauma symptoms.Finding the best approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That may mean blending ACT, CBT, and mindfulness exercises over several sessions while checking what is and isn't helping.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time so people can use a lunch break or transition time for therapy. Licensed professionals commonly adapt homework, skills practice, and in-session exercises to work well in remote appointments, helping therapy fit into everyday life without assuming a specific service.
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 kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma, eating concerns, depression, grief, relationship problems, sleep issues, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
How does she approach someone who feels stuck or directionless?
She uses approaches such as ACT, CBT, DBT, client-centered work and mindfulness to clarify values, build practical skills, and try small changes between sessions.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 16 years of experience working with people on addiction, co-occurring concerns, trauma, eating issues, depression, and related problems.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds LPC-MHSP and LPC credentials and practices in Alabama with the licensure details noted as TN LPC-MHSP and AL LPC.
Can non-US or international clients work with her?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific session formats.
How are fees structured?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.