Licensed to practice in Florida and accepts 47 insurances. Specializes in Chronic Illness, Grief, Trauma and PTSD and 8 more.
(she/her)
Hi, I’m Shari. With more than 26 years of experience as a licensed mental health counselor, I believe every person has inherent worth that exists beyond their struggles, diagnoses, or life circumstances. At the heart of my practice is a commitment to seeing people through mercy and grace, recognizing dignity beyond dysfunction, strength alongside suffering, and hope even in life's most difficult seasons. These principles shape how I understand each client's story and guide the therapeutic relationship we build together. I recognize that many of the ways people cope with anxiety, trauma, grief, or life's challenges began as creative ways to survive difficult circumstances. Rather than defining people by their symptoms or past experiences, I seek to understand their unique story, honor the resilience that has carried them this far, and help them build healthier patterns that support lasting healing and growth. I also believe spirituality is a source of meaning, hope, and resilience that is distinct from religious beliefs or practices. Whether you identify as religious, spiritual, both, or neither, I respect your values and will thoughtfully incorporate them into therapy only if they are important to you. My approach is collaborative, client-centered, and evidence-based. Whether you're navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, caregiver stress, chronic illness, relationship challenges, or major life transitions, my goal is to help you gain insight, build practical coping skills, and reconnect with your strengths so you can move toward a more meaningful and fulfilling life.
Taking the first step toward therapy can feel overwhelming, and it's natural to have questions or even some uncertainty. My goal is to create a welcoming, comfortable space where you feel respected, heard, and free to be yourself. Our first session is an opportunity for us to get to know one another. I'll invite you to share what brings you to therapy, what challenges you're currently facing, and what you hope to gain from our work together. I'll ask thoughtful questions to better understand your story, your relationships, your strengths, your values, and the experiences that have shaped your life. There is no pressure to tell your entire story in one session. We'll move at a pace that feels comfortable for you while beginning to identify your goals and develop a plan that reflects your unique needs and hopes for the future. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I believe you are the expert on your own life. My role is to listen deeply, offer guidance and practical tools, and partner with you as we work toward meaningful, lasting change. Whether our work together includes traditional talk therapy, expressive approaches such as art or journaling, or the thoughtful integration of your personal values and spirituality, each session will be tailored to your goals and preferences. My hope is that you'll leave your first session feeling understood, encouraged, and confident that you don't have to navigate life's challenges alone.
I bring more than 26 years of clinical experience, along with a calm, compassionate presence and a genuine curiosity about each person's story. My experience spans private practice, medical and oncology settings, palliative care, caregiver support, and spiritually integrated psychotherapy, allowing me to walk alongside individuals facing both emotional challenges and life-changing medical circumstances. I believe meaningful healing begins within a trusting therapeutic relationship where you feel safe enough to be authentic, challenged enough to grow, and supported enough to believe that change is possible. I don't believe my role is to fix people; I believe my role is to walk alongside them as they rediscover the dignity, strengths, and hope that have always been there, even when life's hardships have made them difficult to see. My approach is both trauma-informed and strength-based. Rather than focusing solely on problems or symptoms, I seek to understand the experiences that have shaped you, recognize the resilience that has carried you this far, and help you build on those strengths as you move toward healing. I draw from evidence-based therapeutic approaches while tailoring treatment to your unique needs, goals, and preferences. I also have specialized training in expressive therapies and, when appropriate, incorporate creative interventions such as art, journaling, guided imagery, and other experiential techniques. These approaches can deepen self-awareness, foster emotional expression, and help access experiences that are sometimes difficult to put into words. Whether you're seeking support for anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship concerns, caregiver stress, chronic illness, or major life transitions, my goal is to help you gain insight, develop practical coping strategies, strengthen resilience, and move toward a life of greater meaning, hope, and emotional well-being.
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $100 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter Health
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Blue Cross Blue Shield - Medicare
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Florida Blue
Florida Blue - Medicare
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
Medicare
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Our thoughts influence how we feel, and our feelings often shape how we respond to the world around us. Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I help clients recognize patterns of thinking that may no longer be serving them and develop practical strategies that foster greater emotional balance, healthier relationships, and more intentional choices. I integrate CBT within a trauma-informed, strength-based framework, recognizing that many beliefs and behaviors were shaped by life experiences and once served an important purpose. Together, we'll examine those patterns with curiosity, identify new perspectives, and develop skills that align your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors with your values and the life you want to create.
Trauma Informed Care
My trauma-informed approach begins with understanding rather than judgment. Rather than asking, "What's wrong with you?" I seek to understand, "What has happened to you?" Together, we'll explore your story with compassion, recognizing both the impact of difficult experiences and the dignity, resilience, and strengths that can serve as the foundation for healing and growth.
Grief Therapy
Grief is a deeply personal experience, and there is no "right" way to grieve. Drawing on my experience in oncology, palliative care, and caregiver support, I help individuals and families navigate anticipatory grief, serious illness, bereavement, caregiver stress, and the many losses that accompany life's unexpected transitions. I provide a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where you can process your emotions, honor your experiences, discover meaning in the midst of loss, and learn to carry your grief with greater hope, resilience, and purpose.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I integrate mindfulness as part of a trauma-informed approach to help clients develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and responses to stress. Rather than judging these experiences, mindfulness invites us to approach them with curiosity, compassion, and acceptance. This can help regulate the nervous system, reduce anxiety, increase emotional resilience, and create a greater sense of safety. By learning to stay present, clients often find they can respond more intentionally to life's challenges instead of reacting from fear, overwhelming emotions, or patterns rooted in past experiences. For many clients, mindfulness becomes more than a coping strategy—it becomes a way of reconnecting with themselves through greater self-awareness, self-compassion, and intentional living. I tailor mindfulness practices to each client's comfort level, goals, and personal beliefs, integrating them in ways that support greater emotional well-being, resilience, and a more meaningful connection with yourself and others.
2 ratings with written reviews
February 25, 2026
She made me very comfortable since I am just starting on this journey. Very good listener and helping me get going to feeling good 👍
February 17, 2026
Sharing is very easy to talk to. I feel as though she really listens, not just hears. She gave me the time I needed to talk and get what I needed out.