Tracy Parus
Tracy Parus
I’m a licensed clinical social worker with over 25 years of experience helping individuals navigate life’s challenges. As someone who genuinely cares about helping others, I thrive on turning ideas into meaningful solutions that promote growth and success. With experience across various fields, I bring a unique perspective that allows me to understand and cater to the individual needs of my clients. My approach is rooted in creativity, empathy, and collaboration, ensuring every project resonates with your vision I provide compassionate, strengths-based support tailored to your goals, drawing from evidence-based practices like CBT and person-centered therapy. I’m dedicated to nurturing relationships and am here to support you in achieving your goals. Together, let’s explore new possibilities for you!
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we’ll take time to get to know each other. I’ll ask about what brings you to therapy, your goals, and any concerns you’d like to explore. It’s a safe, judgment-free space where you can share at your own pace and begin building a trusting connection.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
What sets me apart as a therapist is the way I blend deep clinical experience with warmth, compassion, and practical support. With over 25 years in the field of social work and mental health, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside people through some of life’s most difficult transitions—loss, illness, caregiving, trauma, and uncertainty. I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I create a space where clients feel genuinely heard, respected, and supported, and I tailor my approach to meet each person where they are, emotionally and spiritually. One of my greatest strengths is my ability to form strong, trusting therapeutic relationships. I take a person-centered, collaborative approach, making sure clients feel in control of their own healing process. I don’t come in with an agenda—I listen first, validate what you’re going through, and help you identify the strengths you already have, even when they feel far away. From there, we work together to set meaningful, realistic goals. I specialize in integrating evidence-based methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, and Compassion-Focused Therapy, along with Christian counseling and strength-based approaches for those who desire spiritual integration. I also draw from my experience in hospice and medical social work to support clients navigating chronic illness, grief, aging, and caregiving stress. These are areas where emotional, spiritual, and practical concerns often overlap, and I’m comfortable helping clients hold space for all of it. Another strength is my ability to adapt. Whether working in telehealth, in-home care, or more traditional settings, I adjust my style and interventions to fit the client’s needs and environment. I understand that therapy is not one-size-fits-all—what works for one person may not work for another, and I’m always open to feedback and flexible in my methods. Clients often tell me they appreciate how I balance empathy with practical tools. I help people move forward—not by giving advice, but by helping them uncover what they already know, offering new ways to look at old patterns, and building confidence in their ability to cope and grow. Whether it’s helping someone manage overwhelming anxiety, make peace with a loss, or reconnect with their sense of purpose, I provide steady, compassionate guidance every step of the way. At my core, I believe people are resilient and capable of healing—and that therapy can be a powerful place to redis
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal clients are adults facing life transitions, grief, caregiver stress, or chronic illness. I work well with those seeking emotional clarity, spiritual integration, or practical tools to manage anxiety, depression, or overwhelm while building resilience and self-compassion.
About Tracy Parus
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I have extensive experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a foundational treatment approach in my clinical work. With over 25 years in the field of social work and mental health, I’ve consistently found CBT to be a highly effective, evidence-based method for helping clients identify and reframe negative thought patterns that contribute to emotional distress and maladaptive behaviors. In practice, I tailor CBT interventions to fit the individual needs and cognitive capacities of each client. For example, with clients experiencing anxiety or depression, I often begin by building awareness of automatic thoughts and cognitive distortions, then guide them through structured exercises like thought records, behavioral activation, and cognitive restructuring. I integrate these tools within a collaborative, strengths-based framework that respects the client’s pace and readiness for change. I also incorporate CBT techniques into brief, solution-focused work, particularly in medical social work and telehealth settings where time is limited. In these cases, I focus on targeted skill-building—such as identifying triggers, practicing grounding strategies, and challenging cognitive distortions—to provide clients with immediate, practical relief and coping strategies. Additionally, I’ve adapted CBT for populations dealing with chronic illness, grief, caregiver stress, and adjustment issues, using it to help clients regain a sense of control and shift from helplessness to empowerment. My approach is flexible and trauma-informed, and I often blend CBT with other modalities such as mindfulness, narrative therapy, or motivational interviewing, depending on client needs.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-centered therapy is at the core of my clinical approach. I believe that a strong therapeutic relationship—grounded in empathy, unconditional positive regard, and genuineness—is essential for meaningful change. My role is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel heard, respected, and empowered to explore their thoughts, feelings, and goals at their own pace. In practice, I use person-centered principles to guide every interaction, whether in long-term therapy or brief interventions. I focus on meeting clients where they are emotionally and developmentally, honoring their autonomy and unique lived experiences. This approach is especially valuable when working with individuals navigating grief, life transitions, chronic illness, or caregiving stress, as it allows clients to feel validated and supported without pressure or imposed direction. Even when I integrate other modalities like CBT, motivational interviewing, or solution-focused therapy, person-centered values remain the foundation. I believe true healing begins when clients feel seen and accepted just as they are—and from that space, they are more open to reflection, growth, and lasting change.
Christian Counseling
As a clinician who respects and understands the importance of faith in the healing process, I have experience integrating Christian counseling principles into my practice when it aligns with the client’s values and preferences. For clients who identify their faith as a central part of their life, I incorporate biblical truths, prayer (when requested), and spiritual exploration into the therapeutic process, always with sensitivity and respect for their individual beliefs and denomination. Christian counseling allows me to support clients in aligning their mental and emotional well-being with their spiritual convictions. This is especially helpful in times of grief, moral conflict, family strain, or life transitions, where faith often plays a guiding role. I draw from Scripture, Christian worldview concepts (such as grace, forgiveness, hope, and identity in Christ), and faith-based resources to help clients find meaning, direction, and peace. It’s important to me that this approach remains client-led. I never impose spiritual content, but rather create space for it when clients express a desire for Christian integration in therapy. In this way, Christian counseling can serve as both a source of comfort and a powerful tool for change within a values-based therapeutic alliance.
Compassion Focused
I incorporate Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT) in my work, particularly with clients who struggle with deep self-criticism, shame, or trauma-related symptoms. Many of the individuals I work with—especially caregivers, older adults, and those facing chronic illness or grief—carry internalized guilt or harsh self-judgments that intensify emotional suffering. CFT provides a powerful framework for helping them develop a kinder, more supportive relationship with themselves. In my practice, I use CFT to help clients understand the evolutionary nature of their threat-based emotional responses, normalize their struggles, and strengthen their “compassionate mind.” This often includes guided imagery, mindfulness, and soothing rhythm breathing, along with structured exercises to cultivate self-compassion and reduce internal shame. I find that integrating CFT principles enhances the effectiveness of other modalities like CBT or person-centered therapy by creating a foundation of emotional safety. Clients often express a sense of relief when they learn that their suffering is not a personal failure, but part of a shared human experience—and that they can respond to themselves with the same kindness they extend to others. Overall, CFT is a valuable tool in helping clients move from self-blame to self-acceptance, allowing for deeper healing and long-term emotional resilience.
Strength-Based
Strength-based therapy is a core component of my clinical approach, and I consistently integrate it into both short-term and long-term work with clients. I believe every individual possesses unique abilities, values, and life experiences that can be harnessed to foster resilience, healing, and growth—even during times of distress. In practice, I help clients identify and build upon their existing strengths, such as perseverance, faith, creativity, compassion, or past successes in overcoming adversity. This is particularly effective with clients facing chronic illness, caregiving roles, grief, or life transitions, where focusing solely on problems can feel overwhelming or disempowering. By highlighting what is working, I help clients reframe challenges and develop a more hopeful, empowered narrative about themselves and their capacity to cope. I often use strength-based questioning, collaborative goal-setting, and affirming feedback to reinforce client agency. Even when integrating other modalities like CBT or person-centered therapy, I maintain a strength-based lens to ensure the work remains affirming and forward-moving. This approach not only boosts client confidence, but also enhances engagement and long-term outcomes by fostering a sense of purpose, autonomy, and self-efficacy.