Trauma and PTSD therapists & psychiatrists in Birmingham, AL

Are you feeling overwhelmed by grief, depression, relationship issues or past trauma? You want to feel understood, supported, and empowered to regain control of your life. Whether you are an adult or a couple, you deserve a safe space where your unique story and struggles are heard without judgment. Together, we can work toward the lasting change you hope for, helping you build resilience and discover your strengths in a way that feels right for you.

Sharmen Rutherford is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider, Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, and a Ketamine Integration Therapist. She is currently accruing hours to earn her Certified Eating Disorder Specialist credential through the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals and has completed Vital’s Psychedelics Assisted Psychotherapy and Ketamine Integration Therapy Program.

With more than 17 years of professional clinical experience in the counseling field, Sharmen has helped clients facing addiction and substance use disorders, anxiety, co-occurring disorders, depression, eating disorders, trauma, PTSD, self-harm, school pressures, relationship issues, loss and grief. It is her passion to provide college students, young adults, women, and men with the tools and resources that they need to cope and make a better life for themselves.

Sharmen holds a Master of Arts degree in Professional Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama. She has provided mental health services to adolescents and adults for numerous local mental health organizations, including an alternative school, the Alabama Department of Mental Health at Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility, two residential substance abuse treatment facilities, and a halfway house.

Sharmen is a former Advisory Board member and a Board of Directors member for 3 years for the Alabama School of Alcohol and other Drug Studies. She is also a former Board of Directors Hospitality Chair and Secretary of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals for the Alabama Chapter.

Launched in June 2018, Sharmen is also the founder of All Things New Counseling Services, LLC located in Johnson City, Tennessee.

As a single mom of color, I have witnessed the extreme societal pressure placed on mothers to choose between their career or their children; leaving little room to even provide attention to their own self care. This ignited a passion within me to use my skills to support women to navigate through the chaos. My goal is to work with those women who may need help coping through these very real everyday stressors. Not a mom? That's ok! I can also empathize with the pressure placed on women of color in the workplace to work so much harder than their male counterparts. Its my hope to create a safe space for you to explore these feelings.

It can be challenging at times for women to have access to a therapist who can empathize with their experiences. Through a strengths based approach, I would love to share my personal experience with being a woman of color, a mom, a Christian, as well as a goal oriented professional in non-profit leadership and mental health.

Through this journey, I want you to find a sense of fulfillment, purpose, and self worth and I would be honored to take that walk with you. Our sessions will not be for me to "social work" you, but for you to unload some of the pressure and burden to make the ride a bit easier. No matter what it feels like, you got this... you can do this!

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 13 years of experience supporting individuals and families of various ages. With my skill set I help clients navigate depression, anxiety, postpartum, family stress, intimate partner violence, crisis interventions, major life transitions and so much more. I provide therapy services and specialize in conducting comprehensive biopsychosocial and diagnostic assessments for individuals seeking mental health evaluation, diagnosis, and support. Helping individuals gain a clearer understanding of their mental health through comprehensive evaluations. I help individuals gain a clearer understanding of their mental health through comprehensive evaluations.

Using clinical diagnostic tools, I evaluate presenting symptoms and provide accurate diagnoses. I gather detailed background information and use evidence-based diagnostic methods to determine the most clinically appropriate diagnosis. During the assessment process, I draw from structured interviews, standardized measures, and clinical observation to gain a comprehensive understanding of each individual’s emotional, behavioral, and psychological functioning. Once the diagnostic evaluation is complete, I provide appropriate referrals tailored to each client’s needs—whether that includes specialized therapy/treatment, psychiatry for medication management/evaluation, or other supportive services. I am committed to helping clients access the right level of care and begin a treatment plan that aligns with their goals, symptoms, and long-term well-being.

Healing happens when you feel seen, supported, and empowered to move forward. I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating anxiety, OCD, family conflict, anger management, and cultural & ethnic identity concerns while also helping clients facing depression, trauma, stress, grief, ADHD, relationship challenges, women's issues, physical health concerns, and life transitions. With more than 17 years of experience in mental health, I bring a diverse background that includes private practice, school counseling, and serving as an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. These experiences have strengthened my belief that lasting growth happens through meaningful connections—with ourselves, our relationships, and our communities. Whether you're seeking support during a difficult season or looking to create lasting change, I'm committed to meeting you where you are with compassion, respect, and practical guidance.

Maybe you have been holding it together at work while quietly coming apart at home. Maybe your teenager has changed in ways you do not understand and you are out of ideas. Maybe you have reached a season where the strategies that carried you this far have simply stopped working. I am Claudia Arns-Hall, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Alabama, and I treat each client as if they were my only client. I came to counseling as a second career. For more than twenty years I worked in human resources, training, and leadership development for organizations including State Street, Revlon, and Southern Company, and I served as a human resources director before making the change. Because I felt a calling in my life to assist others, I earned my M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University, and I also hold an M.S. from Lesley University and a B.S. in Business Administration. For the past four years I have worked at Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services, first as a therapist on the Acute Adult Unit and Patient Intensive Care Unit and now as Clinical Coordinator for the acute unit, where I also train and mentor newer therapists. That is emergency-room-paced behavioral health work, which means very little you bring me will be unfamiliar and none of it will shock me. I have served both adults and adolescents. If you want someone thorough, involved, and genuinely focused on your individual situation rather than on a protocol, that is what I offer.