Community Highlights: Meet Tracy Sondern of Tracy Sondern Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Sondern.

Hi Tracy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m a psychotherapist interested in helping people through life transitions. For over 30 years, I worked as a creative professional in New York and Los Angeles, producing and creative directing fashion, celebrity, and advertising photo shoots. It was fast-paced, exciting work—but somewhere in my 50s, things began to shift. I started to feel invisible, like I was aging out of a world that once felt like home. I was scared about the future and unsure of where I fit. I’d always dreamed of becoming a therapist, but for most of my life, it felt out of reach—too late, too risky, too different. But through my own personal therapy, I began to challenge the stories I’d told myself about what was and wasn’t possible.

At a point in my life when I felt truly stuck, a friend suggested I join her pottery class. That class became a turning point for me. It shifted my energy just enough to move me forward, eventually leading me to pursue a master’s in clinical psychology and become a therapist. In that studio, I found a supportive community where I could laugh, create, and begin to rebuild my self-esteem when it was at its lowest. Pottery reminded me how creativity and mental health are deeply connected. It taught me to let go of rigid expectations, stay present with what’s in front of me, and find beauty in the imperfect.

As I began to feel more grounded, I noticed how many of the women around me—friends, colleagues, fellow creatives—were struggling with the same questions I’d been asking: Who am I now? What’s next? Burnout, ageism, perimenopause, loss of identity, fear of change—these weren’t just personal experiences, they were collective ones. I created a group for women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s to talk openly about these transitions. It was powerful to witness how deeply those conversations resonated—how much women needed a place to be honest and feel understood. That experience confirmed I was moving in the right direction.

Out of that group came a love for working with couples and individuals at any age or stage who are navigating life transitions. Whether it’s a career change, empty nest, getting married or simply the question of “what now?”, I help people find clarity and compassion in the messy middle of change. Although change can be hard, it can also be an opportunity to re-think the way you have been living and create a new life that’s more attuned to who you are at now.

What I love about being a therapist are the moments when something shifts in the room—you feel it in the air. A weight lifts. A couple slides closer to each other on the couch. A client leaves with a sense of purpose they haven’t felt in years. These moments are why I do this work.

Now in my 60s, I bring a wealth of lived experience to my practice. I know what it’s like to face cancer, to walk through infertility and adoption, to nurture a 34-year marriage, and to reinvent yourself when the old life no longer fits. I’ve done the work—individually and in couples therapy—and I know firsthand the power of healing relationships, both with others and with ourselves.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My most recent struggle was transitioning from a long career as a creative professional into becoming a therapist. It was difficult to step away from work I still loved and face the painful feeling that I had “aged out.” I felt rejected and unsure of what was next. What helped me find my way was returning to therapy. I was fortunate to connect with an incredible therapist, who I still work with today. Doing my own work — looking at the patterns that were holding me back and learning how to change them — gave me a firsthand experience of how powerful therapy can be. That process inspired me to help others create change in their own lives.

In some ways, this wasn’t a completely new direction. I had always been drawn to psychology — my first therapy session was with my family when I was eight, and my mother’s years in Jungian analysis meant therapy was a regular topic in our home. Still, I wasn’t sure if I could go back to school later in life. I started with one course, loved it, and eventually earned my master’s degree.

Now, I feel lucky to do work I love every day. My own winding journey into this profession deepened my empathy, gave me confidence that change is always possible, and allows me to meet clients exactly where they are.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Tracy Sondern Therapy?
I specialize in helping people navigate life transitions — those moments when you realize it’s time to intentionally shape what comes next. At 63, I bring not only professional training but also a wealth of lived experience, having successfully navigated many significant changes myself. I’m an advocate for embracing aging as a time of wisdom, clarity, and authenticity — caring less about what others think and more about what truly matters to you.

I also love working with younger clients, knowing the profound difference it can make to do this work early in life. It’s inspiring to witness people gaining tools and insights now that can serve them for decades to come.

My approach is relational, meaning I see the therapeutic relationship as central to the work. Often, the way you relate to me mirrors how you connect with others, giving us a powerful lens for growth. I integrate somatic practices, such as grounding and breathwork, to help you feel present and regulated. For processing trauma, I use EMDR. And for couples, I draw on my training in the Gottman Method — a science-based approach that helps partners communicate with empathy, resolve conflict, and rebuild both friendship and emotional or sexual connection.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I do consider myself a risk-taker — anyone starting a new career later in life has to be. Without risk, life can become stagnant. Sometimes you need to take a leap of faith to reach the next chapter. Change isn’t easy, but it’s often the key to moving forward and keeping life meaningful.

In my work with clients, especially those navigating life transitions, much of the process is about helping them realize they’re capable of creating a different life than the one they have now. It’s about taking intentional risks to build a life that reflects who they are today, not who they were decades ago. Many people in their 50s and 60s are still living within a framework they designed 20, 30, or even 40 years earlier — a framework that may no longer serve them. My role is to help them imagine, and step into, something new.

Pricing:

• Couples – $225 for a 50 minute session
• Individuals – $200 for a 50 minute session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tracysondern.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/direct/t/110056330389165/

Image Credits
Portraits of Tracy Sondern by Andrew Southam, Office photos courtesy of Echo Park Creative Psychology.