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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.
Additional areas of focus:Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Aging and geriatric issues, Attachment issues, Codependency, Communication problems, Divorce and separation, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Guilt and shame, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Money and financial issues, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Sharon (Shonnie) Brown. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Listens and gets to know me and why I am needing therapy. Great tools given. Great personality. Helps me better understand many things.
Written on Jul 08, 2024 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
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!
Written on Jul 07, 2024 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes
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.
Written on Jan 08, 2024 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and self esteem
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.
Written on Sep 11, 2023 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 5 months on issues concerning relationship issues
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.
Written on Nov 16, 2021 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 1 year and 10 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, and intimacy-related issues
Shonnie is very compassionate and provides great tools to assist client.
Written on Sep 09, 2021 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, sleeping disorders, and career difficulties
Very adaptive to needs!
Written on Apr 07, 2021 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, eating disorders, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
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!
Written on Mar 30, 2021 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, and anger management
Shonnie is a really great listener, and she gives insightful feedback.
Written on Jan 18, 2021 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 1 year on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, and anger management
Shonnie is the best.
Written on Dec 10, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 8 months on issues concerning relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues
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.
Written on Nov 25, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, grief, and sleeping disorders
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!
Written on Oct 01, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 1 year and 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and adhd
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.
Written on Aug 19, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 1 month
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.
Written on Jun 21, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes
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 :)
Written on Jun 19, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 7 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, self esteem, and bipolar disorder
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!
Written on May 28, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, career difficulties, and coaching
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!
Written on May 27, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 4 weeks on issues concerning depression, and relationship issues
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.
Written on May 22, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, self esteem, coping with life changes, and adhd
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.
Written on Mar 12, 2020 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 1 year and 4 months
Shonnie has been an extremely helpful counselor -- she's an excellent listener and has helped me better understand how to approach issues and problems.
Written on Oct 02, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 4 months on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, and anger management
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!
Written on Sep 03, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and anger management
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.
Written on Apr 19, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 3 months on issues concerning relationship issues
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.
Written on Apr 15, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, grief, and coping with life changes
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
Written on Mar 27, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 2 weeks
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.
Written on Feb 24, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self esteem, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
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.
Written on Feb 20, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, career difficulties, coaching, and adhd
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.
Written on Feb 06, 2019 after therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) for 4 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, and relationship issues
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