Sharon Coulter, L.M.F.T, P.P.S.
San Pedro Licensed Psychotherapist
Psychotherapist ~ Adults, Children & Families
As a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist and a long-time resident of the South Bay, I provide psychotherapy to children, adults, and families for a variety of symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, grief, ADHD, PTSD, panic disorder, eating disorders, and alcohol and substance abuse. Establishing a safe, comfortable, and respectful environment is my ultimate goal to support my clients to find the answers I know they have within them.
My Approach to Therapy:
My approach is a gentle and positive one. My belief is that we are all doing our best in the moment with the tools we have, and it is truly my honor to assist individuals to examine their lives and make different choices based on new awareness, perspective, and self-knowledge. We bring laughter into our sessions whenever possible—it has such a strong healing force. I am privileged to gain the trust of the clients I work with and to support the courage and vulnerability required to create the change I witness every day. I have extensive training in Gestalt, Psychodynamic, CBT, and Mindfulness therapies. However, the unique struggles of my clients determine what therapeutic approach or approaches I choose to integrate into our work together.
Specialty Experience:
Couples & Families
I work with couples and families in numerous ways, providing pre-marital therapy, ongoing couples counseling, support of new parents, as well as issues pertaining to transition, and crisis. I have personal experience of the loss of divorce, the joy of remarriage, and the complexity of the blended family—all of which help me relate to many of the challenges faced by my clients.
Children & Teens
Children respond best to the use of art so I engage them in activities such as sand tray work, puppetry, and drawing. I support teens by creating a safe and trusting space where they can understand and learn to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, loss of focus, and motivation that may be the byproduct of relationship struggles, peer pressure, or family change.
Grief & Loss
Moving through grief is a gradual and complex process. My experience as a volunteer bereavement support group leader allows me to effectively work with young children, teens, and adults in private practice using a number of ways to help them process grief, depending on their age. To understand the normality of the many symptoms and feelings that arise is very important as is giving oneself permission to mourn.
Addiction & Recovery
My work in the area of addiction has been a truly humbling and rich experience, and has helped me to understand that the process of recovery is exactly that: a process, not an event. I have provided psychotherapy to adults and families for chemical dependency and gambling addiction in both the private practice and inpatient settings. Every case is unique. Often my work involves consulting with other professionals and partnering with treatment programs to support clients to enter, complete treatment and then continue our work together, post-treatment.
Academic Support/College Counseling
As someone who has worked in schools and colleges in a professional capacity and is a credentialed school and college counselor, I am very familiar with the identification of at-risk students and the resources available to them such as assessment, IEP’s and 504 plans. If needed, I’m available to attend meetings with school personnel and collaborate with school counselors or to help parents in the selection of more appropriate school options. At the high school level, I enjoy working with students on building self- esteem and identifying strengths. College selection and application is complicated and stressful. With extensive knowledge of the college admission process, I support high school students to prepare for and select options that best fit them.
Professional Experience:
The Gathering Place, A Center for Transition and Loss: Group Facilitator—Bereavement Counselor
Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach: Former Parent/Support Group Leader for At-Risk Students,
South Bay-Long Beach Chapter of the California Association of Marriage And Family Therapists: Former Co-Vice President of Programs
Beit T’Shuvah: Psychotherapist to clients in recovery from alcoholism, substance abuse, and gambling addiction; Therapeutic Group Leader/co-leader—individuals and families
Green Dot Public Schools: Middle School Counselor to students and their families; Group Facilitator; Psychotherapist to at-risk students
Da Vinci Schools: High School Counselor – Personal, Academic & College Counseling
Education:
Antioch University Los Angeles
Master of Arts, Clinical Psychology
Loyola Marymount University
Master of Arts in Counseling,
University of California Los Angeles
Bachelor of Arts, Magna Cum Laude
Licenses & Certifications:
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, #91050, California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Pupil Personnel Services Credential, CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Department of Education
Choice Theory/Reality Therapy Certified, William Glasser Institute, Loyola Marymount University
Post-graduate Training in Early Childhood; Addictions and Eating Disorders; Gestalt Therapy
Professional Affiliations:
CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists)
“I use my education, life experience, and intuition to help each client explore his/her unique story and perspective. I truly believe that with awareness and a desire for change, anything is possible.”
