I am a licensed mental health and addiction counselor with a background in the psychobiology of addiction and a strong focus on helping individuals create meaningful, lasting change. My work blends evidence-based therapy with a trauma-informed, nervous-system-aware approach, recognizing that healing often involves more than insight alone. I am Level 1 Trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and use parts-based work to help clients understand internal patterns with curiosity and compassion rather than self-judgment. I am also a Certified Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest & Restore Protocol provider through Unyte Listening Therapies, offering listening-based interventions that support nervous system regulation, emotional resilience, and a greater sense of safety and connection—particularly for individuals impacted by trauma, anxiety, or chronic stress. My therapeutic style is collaborative, supportive, and individualized. I work primarily with adults navigating addiction, emotional regulation challenges, relational difficulties, and life transitions. Together, we focus on increasing self-awareness, strengthening internal resources, and building skills that support sustainable change both inside and outside of therapy.
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In your first session, we’ll begin by getting to know one another, as building a genuine, trusting connection is an important foundation for meaningful therapy. I’ll ask thoughtful questions to better understand what you’re experiencing, how intense your symptoms or concerns feel, and how they are affecting your daily life and relationships. This helps me tailor our work to your unique needs and goals. It’s very common to feel eager to talk about past trauma or long-standing experiences right away. While those topics may become an important part of our work together, the early sessions are often focused on creating a sense of safety, building trust, and learning tools for self-regulation. This allows us to approach deeper material in a way that feels manageable, respectful of your nervous system, and aligned with your pace. When helpful, brief assessments may be used to establish a baseline and guide treatment planning, ensuring our work remains responsive and effective over time. After the first session, I typically offer a small, practical takeaway—something you can try between sessions to support regulation, insight, or grounding—so you can begin experiencing a sense of movement and progress from the very start.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My greatest strengths as a therapist come from the integration of extensive training, decades of experience, and a deep respect for the human nervous system. Over the past 30 years, my work in neuroscience, biology, psychobiology of addiction, trauma-informed care, and life coaching has shaped an approach that looks at the whole person—not just symptoms or diagnoses. This foundation allows me to understand how experiences are held in both the mind and body, and how lasting change happens when both are addressed together. I am Level 1 Trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and a Certified Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest & Restore Protocol provider through Unyte Listening Therapies, which informs my ability to work with emotional regulation, protective patterns, and the nervous system in a thoughtful, compassionate way. Clients often share that they experience me as a calming, steady presence—someone who helps create a sense of safety and co-regulation that makes deeper work feel possible. Equally important to my professional training is my lived experience. Life has taught me empathy, humility, and intuition—qualities that cannot be learned from textbooks alone. I bring these together with clinical skill and attunement to create a space where you feel genuinely seen, understood, and valued. My goal is to support healing and personal growth in a way that is grounded, individualized, and, for many clients, open to exploring a deeper sense of meaning or spiritual connection.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
My ideal clients are individuals who are seeking thoughtful, integrative support and are open to exploring both their internal experiences and the patterns shaping their lives. My approach allows me to work with a wide range of concerns, tailoring therapy to each person’s unique goals, values, and readiness for change. I frequently work with clients who have experienced complex or developmental trauma and are looking to heal in a way that feels safe, paced, and sustainable. I also support individuals navigating internal conflict, emotional dysregulation, or long-standing patterns related to anxiety, addiction, or relationships, helping them build greater clarity, resilience, and self-trust. I am a good fit for clients who are curious about understanding themselves more deeply and are open to approaches that integrate insight, nervous system regulation, and compassion-based work. For those who wish to incorporate faith or spirituality into therapy, I offer the option of faith-informed interventions that respectfully honor personal beliefs while remaining grounded in sound clinical care.
Trauma Informed Care
Being trauma-informed means I approach therapy with an understanding of how past experiences can shape the nervous system, emotional responses, and patterns of coping. I prioritize creating a space where you feel safe, respected, and empowered, with an emphasis on trust, collaboration, and choice. This begins with building a strong therapeutic alliance through attuned listening and sensitivity to potential triggers. Sessions are paced intentionally, allowing us to focus on regulation and stability before exploring deeper or more painful experiences. I remain mindful of how trauma can show up in the body as well as the mind, and I adapt interventions accordingly. My goal is for you to feel heard, validated, and supported as we work together toward healing and resilience.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I am Level 1 Trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) and continue to deepen my learning through ongoing consultation and training with the IFS Institute. In therapy, IFS is used to help individuals explore their inner world in a compassionate, structured, and non-judgmental way. Rather than viewing the mind as a single voice, IFS recognizes that we all have different “parts,” each shaped by life experiences and often working to protect us. Together, we identify and build relationships with these parts, increasing understanding of the roles they play in emotions, behaviors, and internal conflict. This approach allows us to address trauma at a pace that supports safety and regulation while fostering curiosity and self-leadership. Over time, clients often experience greater self-compassion, emotional clarity, resilience, and a more integrated sense of self.
Polyvagal Therapy
My work is Polyvagal-informed, meaning I approach therapy with an understanding of how the nervous system influences emotions, behaviors, and our sense of safety in the world. I am a Certified Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) and Rest & Restore Protocol (RRP) provider through Unyte Listening Therapies, which allows me to offer nervous-system-based interventions that support regulation, resilience, and connection. These approaches are grounded in neuroscience and are used thoughtfully as part of a broader, evidence-informed treatment plan. Polyvagal-informed care blends naturally with Internal Family Systems (IFS) by helping clients not only understand their internal parts cognitively, but also experience regulation and safety at a physiological level. As the nervous system becomes more settled, protective patterns often soften, making deeper parts work feel more accessible and less overwhelming. This integrated approach supports healing that is both embodied and compassionate, allowing clients to move toward greater self-leadership, emotional stability, and a felt sense of safety over time.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I am highly trained and informed in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and integrate CBT-based strategies when they are clinically appropriate and aligned with a client’s goals. CBT focuses on understanding the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, and how unhelpful patterns can contribute to distress. Through an IFS-trained lens, these patterns are explored with curiosity and compassion, recognizing that thoughts and behaviors often reflect protective parts rather than personal failure. In our work together, we gently examine and challenge patterns that are no longer serving you while honoring the underlying intent of those parts. CBT interventions remain collaborative and goal-oriented, emphasizing practical skill-building and measurable progress. When helpful, I may offer between-session practices tailored to your individual needs, allowing new skills to be integrated in a way that feels supportive rather than punitive.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I am trained and well-informed in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and integrate DBT-based skills when they are appropriate for a client’s needs and goals. DBT is particularly helpful for individuals experiencing intense emotions, difficulty with emotional regulation, or challenges in relationships. Through an IFS-trained lens, these emotional responses are understood as protective parts doing their best to manage distress, rather than problems to eliminate. In therapy, we work to build practical skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness while maintaining curiosity and compassion toward the parts involved. DBT emphasizes balancing acceptance and change—honoring where you are while also supporting meaningful growth. When integrated with parts-based work, DBT skills often become more accessible and sustainable, supporting greater emotional stability, self-understanding, and resilience.
7 ratings with written reviews
June 4, 2025
At this time we are just becoming aware of each others personality. Tracy is relatable and warm.
June 2, 2025
She looked approachable -can't really explain it I was just drawn towards her. I met her and she was kind and easy to talk to she made me feel comfortable and safe.
May 2, 2025
I'm really loving my sessions with Tracy. She is so kind and knowledgeable. She's made me feel comfortable opening up and has given me some great tools that are helping me through a tough time. So grateful I found her!