Sharmaine Whitten

Sharmaine Whitten is a California licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, depression, and major life changes. She communicates in plain language and aims to make the first step feel manageable for someone who is worried or overwhelmed.

Sharmaine adapts sessions to each person's needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan. She focuses on practical conversation and clearly stated goals. Sessions often include tools to manage panic, build self-compassion, and improve communication with others.

Her work draws on several evidence-informed approaches. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify values and take steps toward a life that matters to them. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) and the Gottman Method inform how she addresses relationship dynamics and communication problems.

Sharmaine has five years of professional experience and brings a kind, respectful stance to difficult topics like divorce and separation, guilt, and forgiveness. She emphasizes practical ways to cope with grief and the uncertainty that follows major life transitions.

People who choose Sharmaine can expect straightforward conversation, collaborative planning, and concrete strategies to try between sessions. To begin, she asks clients to describe current concerns and goals so work can be focused from the first meeting.

How these approaches work in online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to notice their thoughts and values, then take small meaningful steps toward what's important. It can help when life changes feel overwhelming or you want clearer direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical exercises to change patterns that worsen anxiety or depression. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on understanding emotional responses and improving how people connect and communicate in relationships.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn't helped before. That collaborative process guides which methods are used and how sessions are structured.

Confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also makes regular weekly work more convenient for people juggling appointments, childcare, or work breaks. Licensed professionals adapt exercises and homework for remote sessions so progress continues between meetings.