I believe you…

By providing a non-judgmental space for my clients, I help them explore the complexities of their experiences and offer tools to help them.

About Sharla Mize

Hello, I’m Sharla. Since 2012, I’ve dedicated my professional life to helping individuals navigate the complex emotions and struggles that life often brings. It’s not an easy journey, but I find it extremely rewarding, especially when I see therapy’s transformative power on my clients.

By providing space for my clients, I help them to explore their expertise—the pain, the struggles, and even the thoughts and actions that often contribute to difficulties in maintaining relationships, finding inner peace, and achieving their goals. I offer them the tools to self-regulate, manage their emotions, and navigate their thoughts more easily. This process, though challenging, paves the way for personal growth, fostering resilience and nurturing emotional wellbeing.

Most of my clients come to me during a crisis. They have lost something or someone important, possibly their freedom, as they are being discharged from inpatient treatment. They’re seeking answers, trying to figure out how to be authentic and break free from relationships stifling their well being. It’s my role to guide them through this journey, offering wisdom, empathy, and a healthy dose of humor.

Qualifications & Experience

Credentials

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in CA (License #7961), TN (License #2834), KY (License #279276)

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Art History from The University of Kentucky, 1993
Master’s Degree in Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University, 2007
Extensive professional training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Resolution Therapy, and Neuro-Affective Relational Model (NARM)

Professional Associations

Member of American Counseling Association, NBCC Certified Counselor, CALPCC, KYACA, TLPCA

Experience

Private virtual therapist, trainer, and consultant  (March 2021 – Present)
DBT Skills Group Leader at various mental health centers  (2019 – 2021)
DBT Trainer at PESI (2015 – 2019), conducting 25 certification trainings across the country
Self-Employed Therapist at Awakening Hearts Counseling  (2015 – 2019), providing individual and skills training DBT
Mental Health Manager and Dialectical Behavior Specialist at Renewal House (2010 – 2015), supervising mental health staff and interns and implementing DBT in a residential program
Motivational Interviewing Training

Presentations & Trainings

Motivational Interviewing and Celestial Mother.
Consistent member of a DBT Consultation Team since 2012

What sets my practice apart?

As an anti-racist and feminist, my practice stands for dismantling systems that hinder BIPOC and LGBTQI+ folks from thriving. I acknowledge the Native Peoples — Shawnee, Cherokee, and Chickasaw — whose land I occupy. I strive to support women from all walks of life to have equal standing in society.

My extensive experience in various psychology modalities that are proven to help individuals self-regulate and manage trauma. Plus, I love to strike a balance between acceptance and the drive for change, delivering my services in a straightforward way while incorporating humor—I firmly believe that being able to laugh at ourselves is a sign of emotional health. One of my unique gifts is balancing compassion with a very straight forward approach.

I offer individual sessions that provide a safe space for self-exploration and group sessions designed to teach skills for self-regulation. I also collaborate with other providers to ensure my clients receive comprehensive care.

My approach isn’t what I was taught in grad school. It’s born out of years of experience and perceptive listening. I’ve learned to value my clients’ unique identities and experiences and support them in their quest for self-discovery and a life worth living. This approach allows me to help highly sensitive and perceptive individuals — many of whom have been misunderstood and dismissed — find their authentic selves and learn to live from that core.