Meet Sharon

I believe each person’s story is sacred and that lasting change happens within the context of relationship. I seek to create a person-centered environment where people feel comfortable to heal or grow at their pace in the way that fits their specific needs. It is my hope to empower families to embrace healing in order to live life to the fullest. Specifically, with children, adolescents, and families, I focus on age-appropriate activities designed to holistically help people overcome difficulties, develop resiliency, and cultivate strengths for lasting change.

Sharon Bryant, LMFT, RPT, is the founder of Flourishing Families. She is certified in Child-Centered Play Therapy, Filial Family Therapy, Relationship Enhancement Programming, and Prepare-Enrich, and is an EMDRIA Approved EMDR Trained Clinician. She has presented twice at the National Institute for Relationship Enhancement (NIRE) national conference in Washington D.C., has taught as an adjunct professor, and has trained in a variety of settings. Sharon has co-authored a life-skills curriculum called Back on Track and has contributed to a marriage-enrichment program (“Couple Talk”), as well as a parenting book titled A Life Shared: Meaningful Conversations with Our Kids.

Who I serve:

I enjoy providing counseling services to a variety of people including children and their families, adolescents and their families, individual adults and their families, friendships, teams, and couples (pre-marital, and co-parenting). I enjoy working with Blended families, families that have formed through adoption, and families navigating cross-cultural settings (via Telehealth or in person). I also like working with graduate students who are studying counseling (and their families) as they seek to integrate the knowledge they are gaining. I love leading enrichment groups for couples and parents.

Areas I address:

I address a variety of issues including grief, transitions, stress, culture shock, resiliency, trauma, family conflict, parenting, divorce, step-family adjustment, pre-marital, depression, anxiety, separation anxiety, phobias, PTSD, ADHD, ADD, and ODD.

Methods used:

Focusing on Attachment, Systems, Humanistic and Play Therapies, I utilize an assortment of experiential therapies in my work. Methods I use most often are Child-Centered Play Therapy, Filial Family Therapy, Relationship Enhancement Couples Therapy, Relationship Enhancement Family Therapy, and EMDR. I also enjoy use of Sandtray, Skills Teaching, Play-Based CBT, Bibliotherapy, Art therapies, TBRI, & Theraplay.

In my spare time:

I love spending time with my hubby playing games at a coffee shop or kayaking, and spending time at home with my three children playing “Chase” and “Find you.” I also seize moments to be in nature and to cross-stitch while watching the Red Sox play.

Licenses and Certifications:

~Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, IL, March 2015

~Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, KY, Oct. 2014

~Registered Play Therapist, National Certification, Sept. 2016

~Certified Child-Centered Play Therapist (CCPT), NIRE, May 2014

~Certified Filial Therapist, NIRE, Nov. 2014

~Certified Relationship Enhancement Program Leadership, NIRE, May 2014

~Certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, Sept. 2011

~Child-Centered Play Therapist Skills Consultant, pending Dec. 2019

~Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, pending Jan. 2020

~Certified EMDR trained clinician, pending Feb. 2020

Professional Affiliations:

~Member of Association for Play Therapy, 2016–present

~National Institute of Relationship Enhancement (NIRE) Board Member, 2013–present