Tracy Kessler

Supportive therapist blending practical skills and compassion

LISW, MD, LCSW-C Maryland

Experience: 23 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Tracy

Tracy Kessler is a licensed social worker with 23 years of clinical experience who brings a grounded, compassionate presence to her work. She draws on a strengths-based, holistic perspective that emphasizes transformation education - the intentional reshaping of personal habits and environments to support lasting change.

Background and approach

Tracy's style is warm, approachable, and energetic, and she aims to empower clients through practical skills and attuned support.

Over nearly two decades in school-based mental health, Tracy has focused much of her practice on ADHD, PTSD, and child trauma while also addressing a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, parenting challenges, and eating or mood disorders. She blends evidence-informed strategies such as cognitive behavioral techniques and trauma-focused interventions with client-centered listening and mindfulness-informed tools.

Tracy holds LISW, MD, and LCSW-C credentials and works from Maryland, bringing experience with survivors of abuse, medically fragile and developmentally disabled children, and families involved in foster care. Outside of work she is a mother and dog lover who values honesty, hard work, and staying active.

Her approach combines practical coaching, advocacy, and steady support to help clients move toward meaningful, achievable goals.

Clinical Approaches and Online Care

Tracy commonly uses cognitive behavioral techniques and trauma-focused work to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns, build practical coping skills, and process difficult memories or reactions. CBT-oriented strategies focus on changing thoughts and behaviors that contribute to stress and mood problems, while trauma-focused approaches provide structured ways to address trauma and its effects.

She also integrates client-centered principles, prioritizing empathetic listening and collaboration so clients feel heard and supported as they set goals. The therapist works with each person to determine which combination of methods will best fit their needs, emphasizing a collaborative process that adapts over time based on progress and preferences.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into daily life. These formats can support ongoing skill practice, brief check-ins between sessions, and accessible options for those who need scheduling or mobility flexibility. Licensed professionals can tailor session style and pacing to what works best for the individual, helping move therapeutic goals forward while accommodating real-world routines.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Tracy commonly address?

She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, ADHD, self-esteem, eating and mood disorders, and parenting and family challenges.

What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?

Sessions combine client-centered listening with practical interventions such as cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness strategies, and trauma-focused approaches to build skills and resilience.

What is Tracy's professional background?

She has 23 years of experience and spent 18 years providing school-based mental health services to children and adolescents in the public school system.

Which credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

The therapist holds LISW, MD, and LCSW-C credentials with licence details OH LISW I.2607959 and MD LCSW-C 15478, and practices from Maryland.

Does she offer services in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available for online work?

Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their needs and scheduling preferences.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Self esteem Depression ADHD

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shame Impulsivity Mood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-harm Social anxiety and phobiaWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

23+ years

Licensed

Maryland, Virginia, Ohio

Languages

English