About Russell Kauitzsch
About Me
Hello! I'm Russell and I am founder and owner of Austin Counseling and Trauma Specialists, PLLC in Texas and North Star Counseling and Trauma Specialists, PLLC in Minnesota.
I am a native born Austinite and I still love the City! I enjoy watching the city grow and I love the fun things brought to Austin Tx because of the growth! However, it is not without some sacrifice of some of the quaintness Austin once had.
I have had a passion for mental health work since 1998 when I started in volunteer jobs then got paying jobs and added lots of education and countless trainings. That all shaped me into a professional passionate about mental health and counseling.
My family and many dear friends live around the Austin Tx area and I deeply value time with them. They all help me with a healthy work/life balance. I couldn't do this without them.
In off time, I enjoy bike rides, taking a walk or hike, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying good food in the Austin area. I love to travel when I can and experience new places and things. I also love cars! Driving is a lot of fun for me, as long as it isn't in traffic!
My Education
I began my education at Texas State with a Bachelor's Degree in Family and Child Development. I followed that with a Master's of Science Degree from Walden University in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling. My education prepared me well and got me excited about my future.
I am EMDR trained. EMDR is an extremely effective trauma treatment tool used for many different issues including PTSD, childhood trauma, single incident traumas, pain, anxiety, and much more! You can learn more on the Services and Specialties tab.
Now I attend continuing education courses and trainings where I constantly learn new things in the field. I learn about new treatment modalities and developments in client care. Counseling continues to change as we learn more about people and how our brains and bodies function. This keeps me on my toes and keeps a fresh perspective on my work. I take a great deal of pride in my work and want to keep learning!
I also supervise Interns and Associates who are new to the profession and bring all the latest and greatest information into their work. It is exciting to work with developing counselors and provide guidance into the profession while learning from them too! This keeps me, and the practice, up to date and on the leading edge of the profession.
LPC-S, LPCC-S
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) through the state of Texas and a License Professional Clinical Counselor Supervisor in Minnesota. I am very proud to be able to be a counselor and am passionate about mental health and healing. I'm also thrilled to get to work with Interns and Associates to provide them with a healthy introduction into the field and for me to learn from them and grow with them.
I believe deeply in the power counseling and have created a group practice to employee wonderful counselors who can help clients heal. Bringing in interns and associates helps us remain on the cutting edge of the profession, balanced with the vast experience of our seasoned counselors who bring depth to the practice. We work diligently to maintain strong ethics and healthy boundaries so that we all continue to grow and help clients reach their goals through healthy therapeutic relationships with excellent counselors.
Experience and Training
My career has advanced from volunteer positions while I was an undergraduate student to now running my own group private practice and I'm thrilled to be at this place in my career and life!
I began as a volunteer crisis hotline counselor talking to people who were scared, alone, and sometimes suicidal. I listened to them and tried to get them the help and support they were seeking. In this role I also responded to the hospital to support people who had been victims of sexual assault.
I then became a sexual assault counselor at a crisis center where I worked with survivors in a peer counseling position. This type of crime is such a deep personal violation and I was so glad to be able to help clients release shame and guilt and find calm and return to their pre-trauma functioning. I also ran a group for male survivors, which was groundbreaking at the center at that time that had only provided services to women. It was a powerful group and I am very proud to offer a Male Survivors Group now at Austin Counseling and Trauma Specialists PLLC.
I later became an intern bereavement counselor at a Hospice Austin where I counseled those who had lost loved ones who had been in hospice care. Though grief was intense, I was able to bring some relief and peace through counseling and together we found their new normal. I also ran a group for parents who had lost children, which was very difficult but very powerful and healing.
I then worked in disaster behavioral health for the state helping those who had experienced natural or man-made disaster recover and heal. Later I became a crisis counselor in law enforcement working with victims of crime at the scenes of crimes. There I experienced some of the most intense levels of trauma and crisis as it happened. While it was intense and emotional, I got to help people begin their healing immediately. It is impossible to describe with words what I experienced, how I witnessed trauma and saw healing happening. It was extremely powerful and emblazoned my love for trauma work.
Through my years I have also worked in general counseling centers with clients experiencing various issues including gender identity, anxiety, depression, coming out, childhood issues, dating, couples and marriage issues, run groups for male survivors, parents who have lost children, and those who are transgender. I have done so much and am still excited to do so much more!
I have advanced a great deal in my career and have learned so much along the way. I am so happy to bring this experience to my clients in Cedar Park and Austin Tx today!
Support and Mentors
Through my career development I had several mentors to whom I owe a great deal of gratitude and want to mention them here.
Dr. Nelwyn Moore, PhD, LMFT, in my undergraduate education, guided me to the field of psychotherapy and encouraged my counselor education path. Dr. Moore was a wonderful inspiration and role model for me and I am deeply grateful for her guidance and care through establishing my path as a counselor.
Karen Hutchins, LPC, at Cicada Recovers Services mentored me and taught me how to trust the process and how to assure I take care of myself. Watching Karen's unique style made it clear to me that I wanted to be a counselor and find my individual style! Karen remains a dear friend and someone I consult with regularly!
Stephen Terrell, LPC, Austin Attachment and Counseling Center supervised my work during my education and guided me early in my career. Steve knows what it takes to be a successful therapist and truly help clients in the best way. His guiding presence in my career was powerful and inspiring!
Without a doubt, these are the key people in my development as a psychotherapist but my family and friends who have supported me through the ups and downs of progress through my life and career are by far the most dear and wonderful! I continue to feel their love support through the growth of my practice and journey of my life. I could not do this without each one of you! I'm so thankful!