Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- ADHD
How Sharon works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Licensed in
- California
- Years in practice
- 30
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Sharon
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 30 years of practice in California. She helps people manage stress, anger, anxiety, relationship pain, grief, and life changes. Her style is direct and compassionate, and she invites clients to take small, steady steps forward.
Shonnie draws on a mix of practical methods to meet each person where they are. Sessions often include goal setting, coping skills, mindfulness, and writing prompts when useful.
Background and approach
She pays attention to how early attachment and family history shape present reactions. Her background includes a B.A. from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in counseling psychology from JFK University in Orinda, California. Over three decades she has worked with individuals and couples and led groups on separation, infidelity, and social anxiety.
People come to her for things like toxic workplace stress, separation and divorce, co-parenting challenges, low self-esteem, and difficulty tolerating strong feelings. She emphasizes building the client-therapist relationship first, then adding tools that fit the person’s goals. Shonnie also uses writing as a therapeutic tool and encourages small practices that support optimism and self-compassion.
She describes change as a series of manageable steps and helps people practice self-soothing and clearer boundaries as part of recovery.
What Sharon works with
Everything Sharon lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Sharon's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- ADHD
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Sharon lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How her approaches work online
Sharon commonly uses Attachment-Based and Cognitive Behavioral approaches to help people understand patterns and change unhelpful reactions. Attachment-based work looks at how early relationships affect current trust, boundaries, and closeness, which can help with intimacy and anger. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavioral changes to reduce anxiety and improve mood.Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they try methods and adjust the plan based on what helps the person feel steadier and more in control.
Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls allow face-to-face work on emotions and role plays. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in fits a lunch break. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for ongoing coaching, quick skill practice, or writing exercises between sessions. These options give flexibility while keeping the focus on practical tools and steady progress.
Questions people ask about Sharon
What concerns does she help with?
Sharon helps with stress, anger, anxiety, relationship problems, self-esteem, grief, career and life transitions including separation and divorce.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is honest and direct yet compassionate. She focuses on building a trusting relationship and using practical tools that fit each person.
How much experience does she bring?
She has 30 years of experience as a clinician and has led groups on separation, infidelity, co-parenting, and social anxiety.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, practicing in California.
Which languages are offered and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Sharon works with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How are costs handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.