I am an experienced clinician in Boulder who works with a broad range of problems experienced by adults, young adults adolescents, families and couples. I bring 14 years of experience into my work from an array of settings including residential treatment programs, transitional living programs, outpatient clinics, drug treatment court, and private practice.

I utilize an approach, which combines humanistic principals, attachment theory, mindfulness tools, experiential exercises, addiction treatment, family systems theory, and emotionally focused couples therapy. I start with building a relationship with you that fosters trust, openness, and safety. I then tailor my approach to your unique needs to meet your goals and desires for treatment.

Educational Background: I received a bachelor of arts and a teaching certification in secondary social studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder. In 2009, I completed a masters of arts in counseling psychology with a specialization in couples and family therapy from the University of Colorado at Denver. I have completed training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Satir transformational systemic therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and EMDR.

Specialty Treatment Areas: Martial issues, infidelity, premarital counseling, drug and alcohol abuse/addiction, family conflict, transitional and adjustment issues, depression, anxiety, oppositional defiance, trauma, EMDR, self harm, eating disorders, impulse control issues, mentoring.

My Practice:

Couples: I am trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). EFT leads a couple to get right to the heart of the problems that keep relationships unsatisfying and disconnected. The goal is to help you create safety and security in your relationship so that deep connection and caring can grow from the practice of honesty and vulnerability. I will help a couple identify the negative cycle they get stuck in. Then I will lead the couple to develop new ways of interacting that will help manage conflict and move into the caring, loving, and connected relationship we all desire. EFT has been found to be successful with about 75% of couples.

Families: Working from a systemic view of change, I effort to help families increase their communication, connection, and harmony within their relationships and their homes. We can become entrenched in unhealthy and unproductive patterns. I will help each family member develop awareness around their part in these patterns and develop new ways of being within the system thus rekindling a positivity and synchronicity in the family.

Individuals: I work with adolescents, young adults, and adults.   I have a passion for working with adolescents and young adults. The adolescent years can be difficult to navigate through and young adults have the struggle of individuating from their parents. I will guide adolescents and young adults through this difficult time—helping them develop more emotional awareness, coping skills, and realizing their individuality and resiliency.   I also work with adults clients presenting with depression, anxiety, impulse control issues, and trauma. I am trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and use it often with individual clients.

Working with drug and alcohol abuse or dependence: I have years of experience working with addiction issues. I work from a biopsychosocial model of addiction, helping the client develop understanding of the underlying aspects of their use and how their use could be maladaptive way to cope with uncomfortable feelings.

Meet Kat Austin – Video