Once a potential new client emails me, I will be in touch via email or phone to coordinate a 10-15 minute free consultation and then schedule a session.
Shara Carter is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) with a private practice in Franklin, Tennessee. Shara received her M.A.Ed in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Virginia Tech University, and her B.S. from Middle Tennessee State University in Special Education and Elementary Education. She is licensed in both TN and VA.
Shara welcomes teens, couples and individual men and women who are seeking and needing change in their lives. Shara knows both professionally and personally how life can get "Tangled", "Overloaded", and confusing. After a time, making decisions becomes too much to bear, and not only the individual suffers, but relationships suffer as well. Shara understands how difficult it is to wade through the masses of counselors to find the right one. She also understands the hard work it takes to create change in one's life.
Having worked as an educator for many years, Shara knows the process of learning, and the challenges students, educators, and parents face in our present culture. She is also keenly tuned into those that are single and divorced working through transition and grief. Because of this she works with an "Unconditional Positive Regard" approach. She listens, learns, and helps her clients unearth patterns, the past, and the present issues that are converging to cause pain and problems. Together she will join with clients to help them understand what they are facing, why they are dealing with it in their way, grieve losses, find peace, and build tools to face the future.
With her background in the Arts and Athletics, she also brings special awareness to tuning into the body-mind connection and how health and wellness can impact one's mental health. She is enthusiastic about the creative process and welcomes using creativity and Expressive Arts in her sessions.
Depression - Providing support and promoting healing of hopelessness, low motivation and energy, sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and loss of interest and pleasure in life
Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)
Body image - Development of skills for handling negative thoughts about physical appearance; building habits of more positive self-talk and self-perception.
Loss, grief, and bereavement - Emotionally preparing for the anticipated passing of a loved one; managing feelings and reactions to a death or loss of significance; support during the process of healing and acceptance
Life transitions - Coping with difficult or impactful life changes, such as moving to a new area, relationship transitions, child rearing, or career changes; learning self-care to better manage resulting stress
Relationship issues - Understanding one’s wants and needs in relationships; exploring patterns of interaction, addressing concerns, and strengthening satisfaction in relationships and dating
Shara Carter is not in-network with any insurances.
Read about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider here.
This provider can support you in getting reimbursement from your insurance company if you are seeking out-of-network reimbursement. Here are the out-of-network billing options they provide:
Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.
Group, workshop and speaker fees will and can be discussed/ advertised at the time of these events.
Years of Experience: 9 years
Shara Smile, Self-Employed, Owner, Private Practice LPC, 2019 - Present
Fairfax County Public Schools, High School Counselor, 2015 - 2021
The Women's Center, Mental Health Counselor, LPC, 2013 - 2021
Fairfax County Public Schools, 5th Grade Teacher, Special Education, Advanced Placement, General Education, 2004 - 2014
Rutherford County Public Schools, Special Education Teacher- K-4th Grades, 1994 - 1998
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, M.A.Ed, Counseling, 2014
Middle Tennessee State University, B.A., Special Education/ Elementary Education, 1993
Virginia: 0701008541
Tennessee: LPC0000005239
American Sign Language
English