Sharmen Rutherford, LPC-MHSP, LPC - Therapist in Alabama

ACT and CBT approaches
DBT skills training
Addiction recovery support

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. She practices in Alabama and helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, depression, grief, anger, and related struggles.

Sharmen focuses on practical skills people can use day to day. She draws on approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy. Sessions involve talking through current problems and learning concrete strategies to manage feelings, behavior, and difficult situations.

Her background includes extensive work with addiction and co-occurring disorders and experience supporting people with trauma, eating issues, self-harm, and grief. She is affiliated with professional associations related to alcohol and drug counseling and trauma and eating disorder support.

Sharmen emphasizes building a working relationship so clients can try techniques and adjust them as needed. That can look like learning steadying breathing and attention skills, examining unhelpful thinking patterns, or practicing new ways to respond when anger or cravings arise.

She asks people to start with a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session to get oriented. Costs vary by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not accepted.

How Sharmen uses therapeutic approaches online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice their thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and patterns that keep returning. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce distress. CBT can be helpful for anger, depression, and sleep problems. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches practical emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills to manage strong feelings and impulses.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals and preferences, then try methods that fit those needs. This is a collaborative process where skills are practiced and adjusted as progress is tracked.

Confirm the specific session formats before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online options can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. These practical benefits can help someone practice skills between sessions and keep therapy consistent with everyday life.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Addictions Trauma and abuseEating disordersDepression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesGriefSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesControl issuesDissociationDivorce and separation Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issues Forgiveness Guilt and shame Infidelity Isolation / lonelinessLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces Issues Mood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

16+ years

Listed in

Alabama, Tennessee

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she help with?

She helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, eating concerns, depression, anger, grief, and related issues such as ADHD and career stress.

What is her therapeutic approach or style?

Her work uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy focused on practical skills and change.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 16 years of experience working with addiction, trauma, eating concerns, mood symptoms, and coping skills.

What are her credentials and where does she practice?

She holds LPC-MHSP and LPC credentials and practices in Alabama.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does she work with clients outside the United States?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How much do sessions cost?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.