Tracy Bitterolf, AMFT
Tracy is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist who works with individuals, couples, children, and families navigating anxiety, depression, grief, parenting challenges, relationship struggles, and life's many transitions. She has a particular passion for supporting women through the transformative experience of motherhood, helping new parents find their footing while staying connected to themselves, their relationships, and the people they want to become.
Tracy believes that meaningful change happens when people feel deeply understood while also being gently challenged to explore themselves more honestly. Clients often experience her as warm, reflective, and compassionate, while appreciating her ability to help them move beyond surface-level patterns and gain deeper insight into themselves and their relationships.
In her work with couples, Tracy helps partners strengthen communication, deepen emotional connection, and navigate the complexities of parenting and family life. She integrates Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and Relational Life Therapy (RLT) to help couples move out of painful cycles and build more secure, connected relationships.
Tracy also enjoys working with children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, stress, trauma, family transitions such as separation and divorce, and identity concerns. She is trained in Child-Centered Play Therapy and is supervised by Dahlia Bagnis at the Center for Connection, where she continues to deepen her work with children and families.
Her clinical work is grounded in psychodynamic and attachment-based therapy while thoughtfully integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) and interpersonal neurobiology. She strives to create a culturally responsive, LGBTQ+-affirming, and trauma-informed space where clients feel safe exploring difficult emotions, longstanding patterns, and new possibilities for growth.
Tracy received specialized training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders through Postpartum Support International and is a co-facilitator of the Hold the Mother self-exploration workshop, where she supports mothers in navigating the emotional complexities of parenthood with greater self-understanding and compassion.
She earned her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute and her bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley. She completed her postgraduate training at CalFam Counseling Center, where she provided therapy to individuals, couples, and families throughout the San Fernando Valley.
Tracy considers it a privilege to accompany clients as they build more secure relationships (with themselves and with the people they love), and create lives that feel more authentic, connected, and fulfilling.
She provides in-person therapy in Pasadena and Studio City, as well as virtual therapy for clients throughout California.
Schedule a consultation with Tracy.
Kind words from a parent:
“We cannot recommend Tracy highly enough. Finding the right therapist for our 4 year old was incredibly overwhelming, and from the moment we met her, my own anxiety had eased, and I felt like I was finally able to put my child in a position of success with someone who could help.
My son was extremely apprehensive and upset about going to therapy. As his mom, I expected to have to stay with him a while to help him feel comfortable. Instead, within the first minute of meeting Tracy, he happily went off with her on his own. He immediately felt safe, opened up to her, and had such a wonderful experience that he actually couldn’t wait to see her again the following week.
Tracy has an incredibly gentle demeanor. Her sweet, calm voice, warm smile, and kind presence immediately put my son at ease. It was very important to us to find someone who specialized in play therapy, rather than a therapist who simply also saw children, and Tracy exceeded every expectation.
Our son was struggling with severe anxiety surrounding using the toilet, and Tracy gave my husband and I practical, thoughtful guidance every step of the way. She helped us understand how to approach the situation with confidence, consistency, and compassion. More importantly, she reassured us that setting healthy boundaries was not only okay, but beneficial.
Amazingly, we saw positive changes the very first day we implemented the plan she helped us create. The progress only continued from there, and we truly credit Tracy for giving us the tools and confidence we needed to help our son overcome something that had been incredibly stressful for our family. Seeing my son be so proud of himself in what he accomplished is the best gift.
One thing that especially stood out was the detailed email Tracy sent after every session. It was obvious that she paid close attention to my son as an individual. She noticed his strengths, interests, and personality, and she incorporated those into her sessions. She also gave us specific language and strategies to continue using at home, making us feel like we were all working together as a team.
Tracy accomplished what countless conversations with doctors had not. She gave us as parents an actionable plan, listened to and addressed our worries, and empowered us to support him in a way that truly worked.
We are so grateful for the care, expertise, and compassion she showed our family. If my son ever faces anxiety again in the future, Tracy will be the very first person we call. We wholeheartedly recommend her to any family looking for a truly exceptional child play therapist.”
— Parent of a former client