- Calm strategies
- Relationship focus
- Values-based work
About Sharmaine
Sharmaine Whitten is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people facing stress, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship struggles, grief, and depression. She writes short, direct sessions that focus on practical steps people can use between meetings. Sharmaine approaches therapy with respect, sensitivity, and compassion.
She uses a mix of methods that match each person's goals. Conversations are shaped to practical change - noticing thoughts, testing what works, and trying new behaviors. For relationship concerns she uses techniques that focus on patterns between partners and on improving communication.
Sharmaine draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and take values-based action. She also uses Emotionally-Focused and Gottman-informed approaches when relationship patterns and emotional connection are central concerns. Solution-Focused ideas guide shorter term work and goal setting.
Her practice style is collaborative. Sharmaine helps clients set clear, manageable goals and tracks progress over time. She believes small, steady changes add up and encourages skills people can use in daily life.
Sharmaine has five years of clinical experience and holds a California LMFT - Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She tailors every plan to the individual and supports people through life transitions such as divorce, pregnancy, or major shifts in purpose.
If panic attacks, anxiety, or ongoing stress are getting in the way of everyday life, Sharmaine helps people learn ways to respond differently and regain more control over their days.
How these approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then take actions that match what matters most. It can help with anxiety and panic by shifting attention toward values and small steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and testing unhelpful thoughts and on practicing different behaviors to reduce symptoms. CBT is often useful for panic, worry, and depression because it breaks problems into manageable pieces. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on understanding and changing emotional responses in close relationships, which can help when communication and connection are causing ongoing stress.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together we decide which methods to try and adjust them if something isn’t working; the process is collaborative and goal-focused.
Session logistics vary, so please confirm available formats before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and to keep momentum between appointments. It can allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, reduce travel time, and make it simpler to maintain regular work on skills that interrupt panic and anxiety in day-to-day routines.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Sharmaine commonly help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, panic attacks, relationship struggles, grief, depression, and coping with life changes. She also focuses on communication problems, divorce and separation, forgiveness, guilt and shame, life purpose, pregnancy and childbirth, and self-love.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is practical and collaborative, focusing on clear goals and steps clients can use outside sessions. Conversations are shaped to help people try new behaviors and track progress.
What is her clinical background?
She has five years of professional experience supporting people with anxiety, relationship issues, grief, and depression. Her approach combines several evidence-informed methods to fit each person.
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
She is a California LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and practices in California.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not specify session formats, so please confirm current session options before booking to know whether video, phone, or in-person meetings are available.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a therapy process with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a time based on therapist availability.