Influential Woman · Mental Health Therapy / Women Centered Coaching
Sharon Ybarra, PhD, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist / Women Centered Coach, Private Practice
Carpinteria, CA 93013
Her Story
About Sharon
About Sharon Ybarra, PhD, LMFT California
Dr. Ybarra has been a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Ohio and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California for a combined 34 years as a therapist, from 1992 through 2026. Her career in education spanned from 1972 to 1995. From 1995 to 1997, she served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at The Ohio State University, where she taught Master’s-level classes, advised Master’s students, and conducted research on HIV/AIDS prevention among college women. Her research resulted in two published, peer-reviewed journal articles.
When she returned to California in 1999, Dr. Ybarra became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Currently, she holistically counsels spiritual women clients on a wide range of issues, including EMDR trauma therapy, mood disorders, relationship concerns, and helping women move from self-doubt to self-trust while attracting an aligned romantic partner. Special attention is given to the somatic aspects of presenting concerns.
Today, Dr. Ybarra is translating that lived experience into a vision for women’s development. Her central insight is that women can continue developing far beyond the conventional achievement-oriented stages of adulthood. Particularly in the second half of life, women can move toward greater inner authority, creativity, spiritual maturity, relational depth, and wisdom. This is incorporated into Claire Zammit’s Women-Centered Coaching model, which maps the movement from Achiever to Creator Identity and beyond.
Dr. Ybarra helps spiritual women deepen intimate partnership through self-awareness, maturity, and the capacity for mature love. Conscious relationships can also become a focus for development beyond the Achiever Identity. She lives this process with her partner of 10 years.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sharon
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my personality and living a really well-balanced life with healthy eating and exercising since I was young. Good self-care has been a through line. I also attribute it to being spirit-infused and a self-starter who goes for what I want, often without much support initially.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Go for what you want. Don't give up your dreams. Go for them. No matter what they are. Because deep down inside, I don't feel like we're really at peace if we don't.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In addition to spending time with my partner and friends, some of the values that are most important to me are maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle and prioritizing self-care. I value living in a peaceful natural environment, staying active through hiking, walking, and swimming, and making time to enjoy life and the outdoors. These values help me maintain balance, well-being, and a positive mindset both personally and professionally.
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