Find a therapist in Alabama — covered by insurance


Top therapists in Alabama accepting new patients
Connect with 674 compassionate providers throughout Alabama offering talk therapy and medication support. Headway works directly with your insurance to maximize coverage and minimize out-of-pocket costs. Get started with a free consultation and find the right fit for your care needs.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 24 years of experience in the field. I work with adults, children, adolescents, couples and families. My goal is to provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgmental environment. My approach is warm, respectful, and interactive. I place a strong value on working with a client's culture and values.
Are you longing for a space where you feel genuinely seen, heard, and supported? When anxiety, PTSD, depression, life transitions, etc. begin to weigh heavily, it can feel difficult to move forward. I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental environment where healing and hope can begin to take root.
I am a graduate of the University of Alabama’s Master’s program in Rehabilitation Counseling, with a focus on recovery, and I bring additional experience from working in foster care and educational settings. This background informs my trauma-aware, person-centered approach.
Hi there!
I’m a mental and emotional wellness therapist dedicated to helping you find greater fulfillment in life. Embracing your unique experiences with curiosity and respect, I acknowledge you as the expert of your life in our work together. I have a BA in psychology from Auburn University and a Master's in counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Additionally, I have extensive training and experience in marital/premarital counseling, couples counseling, and relationship issues.
I’m a Licensed Social Worker with a deep commitment to helping individuals heal from trauma, navigate grief, and find safety and strength within themselves. My clinical focus is on trauma recovery, including PTSD and complex PTSD, as well as those experiencing loss and grief (both loss of a loved one and also disenfranchised grief).
Over the years, I’ve pursued extensive training in trauma-informed care, nervous system regulation, and grief processing.
I spent nearly 5 years working in the substance abuse treatment field, in a variety of different positions, and found my passion for helping people there. I completed my master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Troy University in Montgomery. My clinical training for my master’s program began at an intensive inpatient behavioral healthcare facility for children aged 12–18 who were in DHR custody and subsequently in a private practice counseling setting.
I specialize in depression, anxiety, substance abuse and addictions counseling, and trauma counseling. My philosophy of counseling is based around the simple idea that every individual deserves to live a happy, healthy and whole life. A little help in counseling has the potential to go a long way to living happy, healthy, and whole.
I am a easy going, non-judgmental therapist with over 14 years of experience.
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.
About our therapists serving Alabama



- 98%Anxiety
- 92%Depression
- 89%Stress management
- 79%Trauma
- 77%Relationship issues

- 99%Aetna
- 96%Cigna
- 86%Carelon Behavioral Health
- 55%Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
- 42%Providence Health Plan

- 99%English
- 2%Spanish

- 84%Online only
- 16%In-person or online

- 84%Woman
- 16%Man
- 1%Non-binary

- 47%Licensed Professional Counselor
- 44%Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
- 4%Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist
- 2%Licensed Psychologist
- 2%Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - Private Independent Practice

- 100%Individual therapy
- 36%Family therapy
- 26%Couples therapy
- 18%Child or adolescent therapy
Frequently asked questions


Find the right therapist for you
Headway makes it easy to find support for your mental health — from finding the right provider, to understanding costs, to scheduling with ease.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Mental Health Therapist in Alabama
Searching for therapists in Alabama starts with finding someone whose training fits what you want to address. Across the state, options vary between larger areas like Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile and more rural communities. You may be looking for support with anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, grief, life transitions, or trauma. As you compare Alabama therapists, look for specialties, therapy approaches, and listed experience that match your needs. A therapist’s bio can also show how they describe their style, what sessions may focus on, and which concerns they often support.
Location, scheduling, and format also matter when choosing a therapist in Alabama. Some people prefer in-person sessions near home or work, while others choose virtual appointments for more flexibility across the state. If you live outside larger metro areas, virtual therapy may give you more options than a local-only search. Before booking, check whether a therapist is accepting new patients, offers times that fit your schedule, and provides a free phone consultation. Reading profiles closely can help you compare communication style, session structure, and approach before you decide.
The cost of therapy in Alabama varies, and using in-network insurance is one of the most reliable ways to reduce session costs. Headway makes it easier to find therapists who accept insurance, view estimated out-of-pocket costs before booking, and choose from therapists who are accepting new patients. Nationally, Headway works with over 100 insurance plans, and you can enter your plan details to confirm coverage for your specific location. From there, you can browse therapists, review bios, and book directly when you’re ready.
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