Sharon (Shonnie) Brown , LMFT

A northern California native, Sharon (Shonnie) Brown brings three decades of clinical experience to work with individuals and couples navigating life transitions and relational challenges. Her own experiences adapting to other cultures, along with personal transitions such as divorce and longstanding shyness, have informed a therapeutic stance that sees change as an integral part of growth and healing.

She earned a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.A. in counseling psychology from JFK University in Orinda, California. Sharon is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with 30 years of practice, and she has led groups focused on separation and divorce, infidelity, co-parenting education, and social anxiety.

Her clinical interests include toxic workplace stress, major life transitions, separation and divorce, infidelity, relationship difficulties, broken friendships, self-esteem concerns, young adulthood, co-parenting challenges, and aging-related issues. As a professional writer, she also integrates writing exercises as a therapeutic tool when appropriate.

Sharon describes her work as honest, direct, and heartfelt. She draws on cognitive and solution-focused approaches, family systems perspectives, and psychodynamic ideas, and has recently incorporated Pete Walker, MFT’s framework for childhood trauma and complex PTSD into her practice. Common underlying themes she addresses are difficulty self-soothing and tolerating strong emotions, and a lack of self-compassion and self-protection. Practical tools she employs include goal setting, coping skills, mindfulness practices, and optional writing exercises, all grounded in building a robust therapeutic relationship and steady, incremental progress.

Attachment-informed and client-centered online care

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns of connection and trust. It helps people understand how attachment styles influence reactions to intimacy, abandonment, and closeness, and supports building more secure ways of relating to others.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and the client's own capacity for growth. It creates space for people to explore values, self-compassion, and personal goals at their own pace, which is helpful for issues like self-esteem, life purpose, and relationship concerns.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. It is often used for stress, anxiety, mood concerns, and developing concrete coping strategies.

Deciding which approach or combination of approaches will be most helpful is part of the therapeutic process. Sharon collaborates with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and tailors the plan so therapy feels purposeful and manageable.

Online sessions via video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging provide flexible ways to work with a licensed professional. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy schedules, life transitions, or when in-person meetings are difficult, while supporting regular access to therapeutic work.