Sharon Wilkening , LMHC

Sharon Wilkening earned her undergraduate degree from Syracuse University in 1998 after completing an internship at Georgetown Law. She then worked in federal law enforcement from 1998 to 2002 while completing a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology at Marymount University. After relocating to New York, she joined Lewis County Community Mental Health Center, where she led a youth diversion program serving teens involved in the criminal justice system who also had mental health diagnoses.

In 2003 she transitioned to full-time clinical work and soon began a private practice focused on individuals and couples facing depression, anxiety, PTSD, trauma, domestic violence, substance use disorder, and premarital or marital concerns. With 16 years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment, she practices as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a credential that indicates specialized training to provide counseling and psychotherapy.

Sharon takes a non-judgmental, strengths-based approach and aims to meet people where they are in their lives. Her work incorporates evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, solutions-focused therapy, strength-based therapy, and motivational interviewing to tailor care to each person’s needs and goals.

Evidence-Based Therapies Delivered Online

Sharon commonly integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy into her online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people identify and reframe unhelpful thoughts and build practical skills for managing symptoms like anxiety and depression. Dialectical behavior therapy emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for people coping with intense emotions, trauma, or relationship challenges.

She also uses motivational interviewing techniques to support people who are ambivalent about change, particularly in the context of addictions and behavior change. This approach focuses on exploring personal values and enhancing motivation so clients can set goals that feel achievable.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Sharon collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies as work progresses to ensure the best possible match.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect with licensed professionals. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction from home, phone sessions provide a straightforward option when video is not needed, and live chat or text-based messaging can support shorter check-ins or ongoing communication between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life while maintaining consistent access to care.