Find a therapist in Cookeville, TN — covered by insurance

I tend to work well with people whose lives or mental health do not fit neatly into one box. Many of the people I work with are dealing with anxiety, trauma, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, substance use, relationship stress, or family conflict, and they often understand the pattern but still feel stuck in it. If you feel overwhelmed, reactive, burned out, or frustrated that insight alone has not created change, I want therapy to be a place where you can slow down, feel understood, and start making sense of what is happening beneath the surface.

I came to therapy from the other side of it. Years ago, a workplace injury took away the career I'd built and — for a while — my ability to cope with much of anything. Rebuilding taught me what actually works: not inspiration, not willpower, but practical tools and someone willing to be honest with you about what's going on. I've been an LCSW since 2019, trained at the University of Tennessee, and I work exclusively with adults across Tennessee through telehealth. My clients deal with anxiety, ADHD, depression, grief, anger, trauma, and the particular weight of living with chronic pain alongside mental health struggles. I'm not a blank-slate therapist — I'm direct, I'll tell you what I'm observing, and I treat your goals as the actual point of the work

Shaped by own life experiences, I became a social worker to help people navigate the uncertainties of life. We have all gone through transitions in life from career changes to family changes. It can be really hard to do that alone. After earning my degree in social work, I dedicated my career to roles helping adults, youth, and family systems. I understand how difficult it can be to go through a separation/divorce, family changes, job changes, growing into teen years and added stress - especially while also trying to manage the day to day life. Ive been there myself! My mission is to foster hope, stability, a listening ear, and skills you can walk away with.

This is a no Judgement Zone!! There are no silly, stupid, dumb, crazy, or ignorant questions. We talk about anything you want and nothing you do not wish to.

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.