Sharon (Shonnie) Brown, LMFT
California LMFT specializing in life transitions
- Stress and anxiety support
- Relationship and intimacy work
- Writing for emotional healing
About Sharon (Shonnie) Brown
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in California who brings three decades of clinical experience to work with individuals and couples. A northern California native, she earned a B.A. from UC Berkeley and an M.A. in counseling psychology from JFK University in Orinda, and she combines formal training with a lifetime of adapting to cultural transitions.
With more than 30 years as an LMFT - a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - she has led groups on separation and divorce, infidelity, co-parenting education, and social anxiety. Her clinical focus includes toxic workplace stress, major life transitions, separation and divorce, relationship difficulties, broken friendships, self-esteem concerns, young adulthood challenges, co-parenting, and issues related to aging. She also works with trauma, grief, ADHD, parenting struggles, and intimacy-related problems.
Sharon integrates a variety of therapeutic approaches, drawing on cognitive and solution-focused techniques, family systems and psychodynamic perspectives, and recently incorporating Pete Walker MFT’s roadmap for complex childhood trauma. She is also a professional writer and often uses writing exercises as a tool for emotional processing and healing. Central themes in her work include improving the ability to self-soothe, cultivating self-compassion and self-protection, and building practical coping skills.
Her style is direct, honest, and empathic, using goal setting, coping strategies, mindfulness practices, and tailored writing work when appropriate to support gradual, sustainable change.
With more than 30 years as an LMFT - a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - she has led groups on separation and divorce, infidelity, co-parenting education, and social anxiety. Her clinical focus includes toxic workplace stress, major life transitions, separation and divorce, relationship difficulties, broken friendships, self-esteem concerns, young adulthood challenges, co-parenting, and issues related to aging. She also works with trauma, grief, ADHD, parenting struggles, and intimacy-related problems.
Sharon integrates a variety of therapeutic approaches, drawing on cognitive and solution-focused techniques, family systems and psychodynamic perspectives, and recently incorporating Pete Walker MFT’s roadmap for complex childhood trauma. She is also a professional writer and often uses writing exercises as a tool for emotional processing and healing. Central themes in her work include improving the ability to self-soothe, cultivating self-compassion and self-protection, and building practical coping skills.
Her style is direct, honest, and empathic, using goal setting, coping strategies, mindfulness practices, and tailored writing work when appropriate to support gradual, sustainable change.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
Family conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementDepressionCoping with life changesCoaching
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMoney and financial issuesSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown have?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown has 30 years of experience as a practicing therapist.
Is Sharon (Shonnie) Brown a licensed therapist?
Yes. She is an LMFT, which stands for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Her California license number is CA LMFT 30787.
In which languages does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown provide therapy?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown provides therapy in English.
Where is Sharon (Shonnie) Brown located?
She is located in California.
How can I work with Sharon (Shonnie) Brown as my therapist?
You can work with Sharon (Shonnie) Brown through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Sharon (Shonnie) Brown work with international clients?
Sharon (Shonnie) Brown does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) Brown cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic approaches and online support for life transitions
Attachment-Based Therapy emphasizes understanding how early relationships shape current patterns of relating. It helps clients explore attachment styles, build safer emotional connections, and improve intimacy and trust in relationships. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the client as the expert on their own life and uses empathic listening and unconditional positive regard to foster self-understanding and self-acceptance. This approach is useful for boosting self-esteem, clarifying values, and navigating life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps clients identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and skill building. CBT is well suited for anxiety, depression, stress management, and problem solving.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Sharon draws on these methods to match interventions to a person’s goals, preferences, and needs, and adjusts strategies over time so therapy stays relevant and effective. Clients work together with the therapist to set goals and choose techniques that feel most helpful.
Online therapy offers flexibility in how sessions occur - options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit supportive work into busy schedules or to connect when in-person options are limited. For many people, remote sessions increase access to licensed professionals and make consistent care more manageable during life transitions.
Ready to start therapy with Sharon (Shonnie) Brown?
Take the first step toward a better you.