Who is Tracey?
Official Bio
Tracey Yokas creates stuff. When she isn’t writing about mental health and wellness, she can be found playing with paint, glitter, and glue. Art fuels her passion for connection in community. She is dedicated to supporting women in their journey towards authenticity, and fulfills her mission by creating safe spaces where art, words, and vulnerability meet.
A former entertainment industry professional, Tracey has an affinity for color-coded art supplies. She is the author of the book, Bloodlines: A Memoir of Harm and Healing.
Tracey shares about her family’s journey with mental illness and healing so that others will know they are not alone. Hope is real.
Tracey earned her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from California Lutheran University and lives in Newbury Park, Ca. with her family, cats, and fish. You can find her on Facebook @traceyyokascreates, and Instagram and LinkedIn @traceyyokas.
More About Me
Years ago when I started writing and then blogging I had no idea I was healing generational trauma. At the time, I was writing to survive. The person I loved most in this world was suffering a significant mental health crisis and I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was terrified. I felt inadequate. Nothing I did to help was working. Then, a mentor told me, “Write about it.”
My mentor knew that regardless of whether those words made their way out of my journal and into the world writing them down–expressing what needed to be expressed without judgment–would help me heal. I had no idea how right she’d be.
As a kid, I wanted to grow up and make movies. I lived in a bucolic New Jersey town, in a beautiful home on a lake. I ice skated in the winter and fished in the summer. Life was great, but I knew early on that I wanted more. The silver screen was calling. I practiced many an acceptance speech in front of my bedroom mirror à la Sally Field.
The entertainment business is why, after college, I packed up my little red car and drove across the country to the land of eternal sunshine. I had no family in California, no friends, but plenty of big dreams. A few years later, I was making my way, working on shows like The Primetime Emmy Awards and even the belle of the award show ball, The Academy Awards.
I got married and started a family. Life couldn’t be better.
Could it?
Why were so many things a struggle? I knew what I needed to do. Work harder and get my shit together. I strove to be a great wife and a wonderful mother and a terrific friend. When I accomplished these goals then life would finally be perfect. Except, it wasn’t working out that way. I was exhausted, depleted, and often cranky.
My daughter was diagnosed with severe depression when she was thirteen years old and our world was upended. I couldn’t foresee it at the time, but I ended up grateful for the challenges we faced, the ways we worked together to grow and to heal. With her permission, I decided to write about our experiences for other families, especially mothers, to know they are not alone.
Many years after I started writing my book, it will be published in 2024. Writing was an invaluable tool for my healing, for identifying patterns that no longer served, and it is the wellspring for my dedication to creative living, art, and community.
I LOVE SUPPORTING WOMEN IN THE JOURNEY TOWARDS AUTHENTICITY.
My mission is to create a safe space for women to use art and words to figure out who they are and what they want. Vulnerability is scary, and it’s more important than ever for us to come together in community for support.
My Work & Creations
I am passionate about mental health and wellness and using creativity for self-care and inspiration. I write, teach, and speak so others going through what my family did will know that they are not alone. I aspire to break down barriers and dispel myths around mental illness and, even more importantly, to spark healing. I find joy in supporting people to connect more deeply with themselves and one another through art and words.
Mixed Media Art Classes
I am a mixed-media artist and art teacher. Art is an expression of our inner creative goddess, a manifestation of our intuition. It may seem intimidating at first, but my classes are fun, safe, and approachable. You, yes YOU, have the heart of an artist.
Book & Writing
My memoir, Bloodlines: A Memoir of Harm and Healing is here.
I write about everything from self-care, mental health, and creativity to tattoos!
My Toolkit
We’re wired for connection—romantic, platonic, and everything in between. But thriving in relationships takes more than intention; it takes tools. And just as important as what we use is how we use them. Let me show you the core values that guide our growth.
Speaking & Events
From Hollywood sets to healing circles, I’ve led in boardrooms, classrooms, and creative spaces. I bring lived wisdom, a flair for real talk, and a deep belief in the power of getting messy to find meaning—especially when it comes to mental health.
Send me a message
If you have a question, just want to say “hi,” or to inquire about speaking engagements or private art parties send me a message here! I want to hear from you.
