- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Client-centered methods
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
About Tracy
Tracy Kessler is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) in Maryland with 23 years of professional experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, ADHD, LGBT concerns, relationships, family issues, grief, eating concerns, parenting, anger, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. Tracy also lists coaching and compassion fatigue among her practice areas.
She works from a strengths-based perspective and uses approaches that center on feelings and connection. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) is one of the methods she uses to help people notice and name hard-to-reach emotions and the interaction patterns those emotions create. She also draws on client-centered work and cognitive behavioral techniques to help people change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
Much of her recent work has been in school-based mental health, where she spent 18 years supporting children and adolescents in public schools. That background informs how she talks with parents and caregivers about behavior, learning challenges, and trauma history. She also has experience with survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, and people with mood and eating disorders.
Tracy aims to be straightforward and practical in sessions. She helps clients identify patterns, try new ways of responding, and practice skills between meetings. Her approach often includes mindfulness exercises and trauma-focused strategies when those are relevant to the presenting concerns.
Outside of work she is a mother and enjoys the outdoors and time with her family. Her practice language is English and she is based in Maryland.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions fit
Tracy uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people identify and name deep emotions and the interaction patterns those emotions create. EFT can be useful when relationship patterns or attachment concerns make it hard to be heard or understood.She also draws on client-centered therapy, which prioritizes listening and responding to what matters most to the person in front of her. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is part of her toolbox too, offering concrete strategies to change thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Tracy will collaborate with each client to decide which methods suit their goals, combining elements from different approaches as needed. That process is shaped by the client’s concerns, preferences, and what shows helpful in early sessions.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, offer shorter check-ins when needed, and allow choosing quieter surroundings or not using video when that helps. Licensed professionals can adapt EFT, client-centered work, and CBT to the online setting, focusing on clear communication, emotion recognition, and practical skills practice.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Maryland, Virginia, Ohio
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What types of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, ADHD, relationship and family concerns, grief, eating issues, parenting challenges, anger, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She uses a strengths-based, client-centered approach and incorporates Emotionally-Focused Therapy and cognitive behavioral techniques to help people name emotions and shift patterns of interaction.
How much experience does she have?
She has 23 years of professional experience, including 18 years providing school-based mental health services to children and adolescents in the public school system.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LISW and LCSW-C credentials and practices in Maryland. The LCSW-C is held in Maryland, with additional licensure noted for nearby states.
Can I work with her in a language other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she see clients outside the United States?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are session formats handled?
The original biography did not specify exact session formats; please confirm current session options before booking so you know whether sessions are video, phone, or another format.
How do I begin working with her and what does it cost?
To start, use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.