Sharon (Shonnie) Brown, LMFT

Sharon speaks plainly and offers practical tools people can use between sessions. She trained at UC Berkeley (B.A.) and earned 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, co-parenting, infidelity, and social anxiety. Her long experience informs a steady, direct style that is rooted in real-life concerns.

Sharon blends approaches to fit each person. She draws on attachment ideas to look at patterns from early relationships.

She uses cognitive strategies to shift unhelpful thoughts and dialectical skills for emotion regulation. Writing exercises and mindfulness practices often appear in sessions when they suit a client’s goals.

Her work focuses on helping people build self-compassion and the ability to tolerate difficult feelings. She uses goal-setting and concrete coping skills so clients leave sessions with tools they can try.

Sharon also offers coaching-style support for career decisions and life purpose exploration. Sharon describes her style as honest, direct, and warm.

She encourages small steps toward change and practices optimism and gratitude alongside clients. Writing is one of her therapeutic tools and she sometimes gives short writing exercises to help process emotions.