- Stress and anxiety
- Addiction and trauma
- ACT CBT DBT
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 experience in clinical work. She practices in Alabama and lists stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, depression, LGBT issues, relationship problems, grief, sleep issues, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and ADHD among her areas of focus.
Rutherford uses practical, talk-based methods in sessions. She combines Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and mindfulness techniques to help people manage symptoms and daily struggles. Sessions include goal-setting, skills practice, and conversations about patterns that get in the way of functioning.
She also works with related issues such as attachment difficulties, body image, codependency, commitment and control problems, dissociation, divorce and separation, domestic violence, drug and alcohol addiction, family of origin problems, first responder concerns, and forgiveness. Her background includes long-term work with addiction and trauma concerns alongside mood and eating-related issues.
Sharmen is active in professional associations related to addiction, trauma, and eating disorders and draws on that network when planning care. She approaches each meeting by helping people identify concrete steps they can take between sessions.
To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session. Session costs vary by location and are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How therapeutic approaches guide online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and choose actions that fit their values. It is often used when someone feels stuck by worry, avoidance, or strong self-criticism. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT can be useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and mood swings. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) focuses on learning emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills to reduce crisis behaviors and improve relationships.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide what methods fit their goals and preferences. That might mean combining ACT, CBT, DBT, or mindfulness tools depending on presenting concerns and what feels most useful in session.
Confirm the therapist's current session formats before booking because the biography did not list specific delivery methods. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into study, work, or busy schedules by removing travel time and allowing sessions during breaks or between commitments. They also allow different ways of working - for example shorter check-ins or longer skills sessions - which can be adjusted to practical needs rather than forcing a single style.
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 work with?
She lists stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, depression, LGBT issues, relationship problems, grief, sleep issues, anger, self-esteem, career worries, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and ADHD among her focuses.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and mindfulness approaches with practical skills and goal-focused conversations.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience working with addictions, co-occurring disorders, anxiety, depression, eating concerns, trauma, PTSD, self-harm, school pressures, and grief.
What are her credentials and location?
She holds LPC-MHSP and LPC credentials and practices in Alabama; licence details include TN LPC-MHSP and AL LPC as provided.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking since specific formats were not listed in the biography.
How much do sessions cost?
Costs vary with location; sessions are billed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started if I want to meet with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.