- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- CBT and ACT
- Gottman informed tools
About Sharmaine
Sharmaine Whitten is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with five years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship concerns, and the changes life brings. Sessions focus on clear, practical steps and emotional understanding rather than jargon. She speaks English and sees clients located in California.
Sharmaine uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people name and work with difficult emotions. In sessions she helps people notice patterns that keep them stuck, and she offers tools for managing panic, anxiety, and low mood. Conversations may include communication skills for relationship concerns and strategies for coping with loss or major life transitions.
She also draws on the Gottman Method and Solution-Focused Therapy when helpful, bringing in structured tools and goal-oriented steps. That can look like focused exercises for communication or short-term plans to reduce overwhelm. Sharmaine aims to balance attention to emotions with concrete strategies clients can use between sessions.
Sharmaine will work with clients on issues linked to pregnancy and childbirth, divorce and separation, guilt and shame, forgiveness, and questions of life purpose. She supports people dealing with panic attacks and helps them practice skills that reduce intensity over time.
To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time, and cost varies by location.
How Sharmaine blends approaches in online sessions
Sharmaine often uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help people name and work with painful emotions and the interaction patterns that keep those feelings active. EFT focuses on recognizing emotional responses and creating new ways of relating to those emotions.She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients clarify values and take committed action, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thoughts and build practical coping skills. ACT and CBT give concrete tools for anxiety, panic, and depression while EFT addresses the emotional core behind recurring patterns.
Finding which approach fits best is part of the early work. Sharmaine will collaborate with each client to choose methods that match their goals and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as the work progresses.
Confirm current session options before booking, since the original profile does not list specific online formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into daily life - they can shorten travel time, allow quicker check-ins between work or family obligations, and let people use video or phone settings that suit their energy and bandwidth. Licensed professionals can combine emotion-focused conversations with practical exercises and at-home practice to help skills stick.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she work with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship concerns, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapy style?
Sharmaine combines Emotionally-Focused Therapy with CBT and ACT to address emotions, thoughts, and behavior in practical ways.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of professional experience as an LMFT working with the issues listed above.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a California LMFT and sees clients in California.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients.
How are sessions paid for?
Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; cost varies with location.
What should I do to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.