Listens and gets to know me and why I am needing therapy. Great tools given. Great personality. Helps me better understand many things.
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown, LMFT
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Sharon is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 5.0 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Sharon. View 28 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in California
Recent reviews
Shonnie really helped me deal better with my anxiety, my relationships and built stronger foundation for myself. She is able to give me clarity in situations and I never miss our appointments. Thank you!
More about Sharon
- 30 years' experience
- Female
- LMFT
Hello! I'm a northern California native and have lived much of my adult life adapting to other cultures. Life's challenges and transitions, including divorce and shyness, have facilitated my growth as a psychotherapist, helping me to accept change as part of life.
I received my B.A. from UC Berkeley and my M.A. in counseling psychology from JFK University in Orinda, CA. I have 25+ years experience as a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), working primarily with individuals and couples. I have facilitated groups on separation and divorce, infidelity, co-parenting education, and social anxiety.
Particular areas of interest are: major life transitions, separation and divorce, infidelity, couples and relationship counseling, broken friendships, self-esteem issues, young adulthood, employment issues, parenting, and aging issues. I am also a professional writer and use writing as a tool for emotional healing..
My work is honest, direct, and from the heart. I use a variety of approaches, including cognitive and solution-focused therapies, family systems, and psychodynamic. Recently I have incorporated Pete Walker, MFT’s roadmap on childhood trauma (Complex PTSD) into my work.
An inability to self-soothe or tolerate one’s own feelings (i.e. hurt, anger, jealousy, guilt, fear) is the underlying main issue for my clients. The other main issue is lack of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-love. I use tools such as goal setting, coping skills, mindfulness exercises, and writing exercises (as desired) along with building a strong therapeutic relationship. Life is delicate and fragile. I work on optimism and gratitude every day. As human beings we can only take one step at a time. Please consider contacting me as a step toward the change you want in your life.
Specialties
Treatment Approaches
- 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
Licenses
- LMFT · California · 30787 · Expires January 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, sometimes called teletherapy, refers to talk therapy delivered remotely through digital platforms, such as video calls, phone calls, or chat. It can be a great option for people who face barriers to traditional face-to-face therapy, such as those living in remote areas, individuals with mobility issues, or people with busy schedules that make it difficult to attend in-person sessions.
Teletherapy also offers greater convenience and flexibility, allowing clients to access care from the comfort of their homes. Research shows that the treatment outcomes with online counseling are often just as effective as with traditional therapy, providing a viable alternative for individuals seeking mental health support.
Reviews for Sharon (Shonnie) Brown
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Listens and gets to know me and why I am needing therapy. Great tools given. Great personality. Helps me better understand many things.
Shonnie really helped me deal better with my anxiety, my relationships and built stronger foundation for myself. She is able to give me clarity in situations and I never miss our appointments. Thank you!
Shonnie is an incredible therapist who is able skillfully listen to you and pick up on your needs. She asks great questions, is empathetic, and her expertise shines through. Awesome experience with her so far.
Shonnie has helped me through a difficult time in my life, offering empathy and professional support at the same time, when I needed it most. She is "Human" and has motherly vibe to her that brought me comfort and helped me gain strength again. She is very resourceful and offers lots of worksheets that come in handy. After a while I felt like talking to Shonnie was like talking to a family member. I am extremely grateful for her qualifications and her human nature that proved to be exactly what I needed to put me back on a proper path.
Shonnie has been such a great gift to me and my family! I can’t thank her enough for the help she’s provided. Hopefully this review will suffice.
Shonnie is very compassionate and provides great tools to assist client.
Very adaptive to needs!
Shonnie is such an amazing resource and counselor! She is so kind and communicative, I always felt as though she was listening and always gave sound advice!
Shonnie is a really great listener, and she gives insightful feedback.
Shonnie is the best.
I had sessions with Bonnie few months to help me with anxiety plus the declining health of my mother. I felt that Bonnie really cared and I noticed that during our calls. She was patient and sympathetic and also provided tools to help with anxiety.
My counselor and I had great rapport. I could hear her guiding voice in my head between appointments. I believe that she really cared for me and my success. If you've never tried counseling, I recommend Betterhelp as it's super convenient and my counselor used solid Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques. Here's to your success!
I can't say enough good things about Shonnie and the entire Better Help Program. I look forward to my sessions every week and find myself growing in areas I had no idea I was even looking to work on. Especially during this particularly stressful time of COVID-19, Shonnie has offered me the support and courage I need to have made some very important changes in my life. I look forward to a long relationship with her and the service.
Shonnie is wonderful, she is very attentive and helpful. She brings in some of her own experiences to help relate or illustrate concepts which is extremely helpful for me. I would highly recommend her to anyone that wants to set goals and meet them to better themselves and make themselves healthier.
Shonnie has helped me so so much! She is an amazing therapist and is very involved in my health. I'm so appreciative of her impact on my life and wellbeing :)
Shonnie Brown is amazing! She is very effective in cognitive behavioral therapy, and she does an excellent job of validating my movement in a positive direction. Thank you!
Shonnie has been a positive force in my journey of healing! I feel like I have achieved so much in such a little time. Highly recommend!
Shonnie has been wonderful - a huge help. I feel like she genuinely cares. More so than any other counselor/therapist I've ever worked with.
Shonnie is great and has helped move my mental health to a great place... Somewhere I couldn't imagine going =) Strongly recommended!
Shonnie has been a positive guiding force in my life for over a year. She helped me develop coping strategies and ways of thinking that empowered me to navigate tumultuous major life changes. Through our time working together, I developed healthy habits and techniques to better manage my anxiety, depression, and panic attacks that have enriched my life in an immeasurable number of ways outside of our sessions. What I appreciate most about Shonnie was that she listens without judgment, and was able to help me dig deep beneath the surface to better understand the root of a problem in order to address it head-on and find practical solutions. I consider Shonnie loyal, compassionate, and highly dependable - I recommend her with my highest regard to any individual who aims to gain a better understanding of themselves, and more importantly, who aspire to learn how to love every part of themselves and live a life filled with gratitude.
Shonnie has been an extremely helpful counselor -- she's an excellent listener and has helped me better understand how to approach issues and problems.
In the short span of 9 months, Shonnie has become like one of my best friends. At first, I was skeptical of doing therapy since I'm very "psychologically healthy". A few challenges in my personal life lead me to try therapy for a month. Now I consider it an important part of my growth as a businessman and leader within my community. Thank you Shonnie for being so helpful during the recent difficulties; I am very lucky to have found you!
Shonnie was able to help me quickly identify the deep-seated issues that were causing all of this strife that I was experiencing and worked with me to develop a plan that would help me overcome my problems. This plan that we developed required that I put in the work and actively participate in my recovery. This was the first time I had encountered this sort of accountability with a counselor, and I will tell you that it made all of the difference. She is empathetic and will hold you to your words and actions, and that is precisely what I needed. I want to extend the biggest of "Thank you"s to Shonnie for all of the help and guidance she has given me.
I wish I had found Shonnie earlier, she is the best therapist I have worked with and would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone I know.
I would like to take this opportunity to say how grateful I am that I was paired with Shonnie Brown as my therapist at betterhelp... It took me a long while to make the decision to do online counselling, and this is my first month. Shonnie jumped right in and made me feel comfortable and it is easy to open up to her. She is a good listener and has already imparted wisdom to me that has helped me to better understand my situations. From our first phone encounter I immediately felt so comfortable talking with her, and she made me feel as if she cared what I was saying. I look forward to our continued relationship and would recommend her highly. I am extremely fortunate to have the pleasure of working with Shonnie, she was a perfect fit for me! PEACE
Shonnie is an incredibly empathetic, caring therapist--the best I've ever had. She has the gift of being able to provide clarity in only a few succinct words so I feel like I really get the most out of what can often feel like a not-long-enough amount of time. I leave every session feeling like I had at least a minor breakthrough and she leaves me with food for thought that helps me through my week. Even during sessions where I do most of the talking, the fact that Shonnie is such an intent listener makes me feel heard and understood and that alone is worth the cost of therapy.
Shonnie's therapy is dynamic, responsive, insightful, and incisive. She's a sensitive listener, and I know she cares about me. Her professionalism is in every way excellent.
She has been extremely helpful and has helped me overcome my fear of commitment. I was in an abusive relationship and she helped me cope up with everything.
Frequently asked questions
Does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Sharon (Shonnie) Brown works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown speak?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown speaks English.
How many years of experience does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown have?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown has 30 years of experience.
Where is Sharon (Shonnie) Brown licensed to practice?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown is licensed to practice in California.
Does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Sharon (Shonnie) Brown does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown offer?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown offers clients 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, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Sharon (Shonnie) Brown?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Sharon (Shonnie) Brown?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.