Tracy Kessler, LISW, MD, LCSW-C

Tracy Kessler is a licensed social worker with 23 years of experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, mood challenges, and issues that affect daily life. Tracy is approachable and practical, and she prioritizes clear steps that clients can try between sessions.

She draws on a strengths-based outlook to help people notice what is working and build on it. Tracy combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered conversations to address unhelpful thoughts and develop new behaviors. She also uses mindfulness and trauma-focused ideas when those fits a person’s needs.

Much of her recent work has been in school-based mental health for children and adolescents. That background informs how she explains things simply and how she works with parents and caregivers to support young people. She also has experience with survivors of abuse, domestic violence, and a range of mood and behavioral concerns.

Tracy values authenticity, humility, and compassion in therapy. Sessions are meant to be collaborative: she listens, asks practical questions, and offers concrete tools. She emphasizes transformation education - helping people make intentional changes in how they think and act.

Outside of work she is a mother and enjoys being outdoors and staying active. Her style is energetic, encouraging, and down-to-earth.

How Tracy’s approaches translate to online therapy

Tracy uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes. CBT works well for anxiety, depression, ADHD symptoms, and many daily stressors. She pairs that with client-centered therapy, which means she listens closely and follows the person’s pace while offering practical suggestions and emotional support.

She also draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy ideas when relationship patterns are a concern and on trauma-focused approaches for people affected by past abuse or traumatic events. These methods are aimed at helping people process feelings and build safer ways of connecting with others. Tracy will work together with each person to choose which methods fit their goals and comfort level, adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to give practical flexibility. Video calls let the therapist and client work face to face; phone sessions can be quicker check-ins or work when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging are useful for short updates, coaching-style notes, or when someone prefers typing. These options help people fit therapy into busy schedules and vary the format as needs change.