Hi, my name is Tracy Kessler. I'm a licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of professional experience. My focus is to help individuals heal, energize, and become aware of their inner strengths. I provide a neutral safe space, listening to your concerns, and customizing therapy to your needs. I value authenticity, humility, and compassion in my practice. I have spent the last 14 years providing school-based counseling services in the public school system. I'm compassionate, approachable, and present with my clients. My expertise is in the areas of anxiety and depression, ADHD, and trauma treatment. I am passionate about client advocacy, mentoring, and coaching. I've worked with various populations including survivors of child abuse and trauma, developmentally disabled adults and children, medically fragile children, survivors of domestic violence, behavioral disorders and mood disorders, eating disorders, children with learning disabilities, and children and families in foster care. I'm a mother and dog lover. I'm energetic, positive, and encouraging. In my free time, I enjoy reading, staying active, being outdoors, and spending quality time with my two sons. I look forward to working with you, let's talk!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Welcome to your first step towards wellness. I'm here to support you through every step of your wellness walk. My goal is to help you grow from your struggles, heal from hurt, and move forward confidently in life being the best version of yourself you can be. My therapeutic style in practice is three-fold. Be yourself. Belong to a safe space. Become a better you. I will meet you where you are from a holistic, strength-based, client-centered approach, where together we will individualize treatment to your needs.
What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?
I utilize a strength-based perspective when working with clients to empower them. I also believe in the importance of a holistic approach to healing. My philosophy is based on Tranz-ed or transformation education, which is the intentional transformation of oneself and one's environment, to promote positive change. My psychotherapy practices include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Holistic Therapy, Supportive Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Specialties include: Trauma & PTSD Learn to face triggers associated with painful and traumatic circumstances. Anxiety, fear, and hopelessness are a few emotions that can linger post traumatic events. Through treatment, I can help you learn to: -Identify, understand, and change thinking and behavior patterns. -Learn to face and control your fears. -Learn to restructure your thoughts about the trauma from feeling to fact to get a realistic perspective on the trauma. -Through teaching different coping skills and relaxation strategies you will learn to react differently to your symptoms. Depression & Anxiety Depression, fear, and anxiety are some of the most common and uncomfortable emotions that we can experience at some point in our lives. Through counseling and treatment, I can help you learn to: -Recover motivation, perspective, and joy that you once had in your life. -Learn cognitive behavioral techniques to adjust your thoughts and actions. -Improve interpersonal skills to communicate better. -Improve problem-solving skills to manage your symptoms. ADHD & Executive Functioning Deficits As an adult with ADHD myself, I understand the difficulties with maintaining attention on day-to- day tasks. Untreated ADHD can cause problems throughout life. People with ADHD tend to be impulsive and have short attention spans, which can make it harder to succeed in school, at work, in relationships, and in other aspects of life. Through treatment, I can help you learn to: -Manage your symptoms through individual cognitive and behavioral therapy. -Learn relaxation techniques and stress management to reduce anxiety and stress. -Learn strategies for organizing home and work activities. -Develop structure, routine and habits to improve your daily executive functioning skills. Abusive & Toxic Relationships Toxic relationships can result in physical, mental, and emotional suffering that can affect your health. A toxic environment in fact can lead to anxiety, stress, depression and overall health problems. One of the most critical choices a person can make is with whom to be in a relationship; the second most critical is with whom not to be in a relationship. Through treatment, I can help you learn to: -Identify red flags in relationships. -Set and maintain healthy boundaries. -Strengthen your self-esteem -Increase your assertiveness & self-advocacy skills, and empower you to live your best life. Postpartum Depression More than 3 million women in the U.S. are affected by postpartum depression each year. Those who develop postpartum depression are at greater risk of developing major depression later on in life. Symptoms might include insomnia, loss of appetite, intense irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby. Left untreated the condition may last months or longer. Through treatment, I can help you: -Talk through difficult issues and feelings that aren’t always easy to do with family or friends. -Make healthy lifestyle choice to help improve daily routines, combat stress and boost your mood. -Set realistic expectations. You are recovering and having to mother at the same time. Don’t pressure yourself to do everything. Do what you can and leave the rest for another time. -Learn self-care strategies. Remember, taking care of your baby includes taking care of yourself. Body Complex Issues & Eating Disorders Body dissatisfaction can lead to disordered eating. Body image misperception is common in the general population. Distortions in body image are unpleasant and can have tragic results. Through treatment, I can help you: -Change the way you see yourself (Perceptual). -Change the way you feel about the way you look (Affective). -Change the thoughts and beliefs you feel about your body (Cognitive). -Change the things you do in relation to the way you look (Behavioral).