Charles Austin, LCSW

Charles Austin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 35 years of professional experience. He is licensed in New Mexico and Texas and practices currently in Santa Fe. He has led both outpatient and inpatient rehab programs and now sees people in private practice.

He helps people facing addictions, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and depression. He also supports those coping with major life changes and values clarification. Midlife crisis is one of the concerns he lists among his focus areas.

In sessions he aims to build an open, nonjudgmental space for talking through difficult feelings. He draws on his own recovery experience when offering encouragement. Conversations focus on practical steps and clearer choices rather than complex jargon.

His background includes directing rehab services, so he understands both clinical and program-level perspectives. That history informs how he structures care and helps people set achievable goals. He blends talk-based methods with tools that address behavior and thought patterns.

Clients can expect a collaborative style that balances listening with gentle challenge. The work often includes clarifying values, addressing addictive behaviors, and managing anxiety or trauma symptoms. He emphasizes steady progress toward greater life satisfaction and toward the personal goals people bring to therapy.

Therapeutic approaches and remote care

Charles uses Client-Centered Therapy to prioritize each person’s perspective and goals, focusing on listening and supporting self-directed change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop concrete skills for managing anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviors. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) may be part of work with trauma, offering a structured way to process distressing memories.

Choosing the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful in early sessions. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Session format details are not specified here, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten commute time, and allow check-ins between other obligations. Some formats also permit a shorter phone or video check-in when a full session is difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt these approaches for remote sessions while helping people manage stress, addiction issues, and major life transitions.