Charles Austin, LCSW

Charles Austin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with licenses in both New Mexico and Texas and 35 years of professional experience. He has a long history of developing and directing outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation programs and currently maintains a private practice in Santa Fe. His clinical work focuses on helping people manage addictions, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, and values clarification, as well as coping with major life changes that can feel overwhelming.

In sessions he emphasizes an open, nonjudgmental atmosphere where thoughts and feelings can be explored honestly. He draws on a range of therapeutic approaches to support clients in clarifying values, addressing family-of-origin issues, and working through guilt, shame, or isolation. His experience also includes work with aging and geriatric concerns, cancer-related distress, codependency, impulsivity, and veterans and armed forces issues.

Charles speaks from both professional and personal perspectives, noting that his own recovery experience informs his empathy and commitment to the work. He partners with clients to set practical goals and to pursue greater life satisfaction and wellbeing, offering steady support as individuals navigate change and healing.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Sessions with Charles Austin

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes active listening, empathy, and support for each person's unique perspective. It helps clients explore values, clarify goals, and build confidence to make meaningful choices in life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and learning practical skills to manage anxiety, depression, cravings, and stress-related reactions. It is action-oriented and often includes techniques for coping and problem solving. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, known as EMDR, is a structured approach used to process distressing memories and trauma-related symptoms, helping some people reduce the intensity of painful recollections.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Charles collaborates with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and he adapts strategies over time as progress and circumstances evolve.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to arrange appointments around work, caregiving, or mobility concerns. These formats provide flexibility for ongoing care, allow continuity when schedules change, and can make access to licensed professionals and therapists more practical for people in different stages of life.