Sharmen Rutherford

Sharmen Rutherford is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 16 years of clinical experience. She practices with a focus on helping people find practical tools and steady support during hard seasons. She emphasizes building a supportive therapeutic relationship and meeting people where they are.

Rutherford uses straightforward methods to address concerns like anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma, and eating and food-related issues. Sessions are aimed at reducing overwhelming feelings and improving day-to-day functioning. She brings approaches that help clients notice patterns, make intentional choices, and practice new skills between sessions.

Her background includes dual licensure as an LPC-MHSP (Licensed Professional Counselor - Mental Health Service Provider) and LPC in Alabama and Tennessee, and 16 years working with substance use and trauma-related concerns. That experience informs how she supports people facing grief, bipolar symptoms, sleep problems, and relationship strain.

Rutherford also works with issues such as body image, codependency, control issues, dissociation, and family of origin concerns. She applies techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Mindfulness Therapy to tailor care to each person's needs.

Her approach is collaborative and practical. She helps clients set small, achievable goals while learning skills for managing emotions and urges. People who want focused, skills-based work and a steady therapeutic presence may find this approach helpful.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck, then move toward values-based actions. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and struggles with disordered eating patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns by practicing different responses and skills between sessions; it is often used for anxiety, mood challenges, and coping with cravings.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, then try methods that fit the person. That collaborative process helps tailor sessions so skills and plans match real life.

The biography does not list specific online formats, so confirm session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports practicing skills where real-life challenges happen and keeps continuity when routines change. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT and CBT techniques effectively in remote sessions, helping clients build skills, track progress, and stay connected to goals.