Tracy Sondern
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
"As a therapist, sometimes you get to witness a moment, where you can almost see something shift and a lightness enter the room. It may result in a couple sliding across the sofa to sit side by side, or someone leaving the session with a sense of purpose for the first time."
I grew up in the Midwest but dreamed of moving to New York City every day from twelve on. I went to school at New York University graduating with a degree in theater and journalism. I spent 20 years there working in the photo industry on fashion, celebrity and advertising shoots, and continued to do so after moving to Los Angeles. I left New York in 2001, wanting a fresh start after treatment for breast cancer. I am forever grateful to never to live through winter again.
My own therapy helped me make this life transition by examining my beliefs about myself and what I wanted in the next phase of my journey. It helped me see that I didn’t have to limit myself because of my age and that so much more was open to me. Because of this realization, I graduated at 60 from Antioch University with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. I am currently a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist LMFT. I love my workhelping people discover their strengths and what is authentic to them.
I am 64 years old and have a wealth of lived experience which includes being married for over 30 years, cancer, infertility, and adoption, among other issues. I believe this experience is a great asset for a therapist to have and helps me bring needed empathy to what my clients are going through. When I’m not at work, you will find me with my hands in clay making ceramics, hiking with friends, face-timing with my son or watching Severance with my partner and two cats.
Professional Training
Southern California Counseling Center
Antioch Community Therapy Services
Opica Community Counseling Center for
individuals with Alzheimer's and Dementia.
Volunteer
Opica Community Counseling Center for
individuals with Alzheimer's and Dementia -
Providing family therapy in underserved
communities to caregivers.
Additional trainings in:
Gottman Method Couples Therapy
RLT - Relational Life Therapy for Couples
EMDR (Emdria)
Education
New York University - B.F.A
Antioch University - M.A. Clinical Psychology