About Russell Kauitzsch

About Me

Hello! I'm Russell and I Love being a therapist! I'm also the founder and owner of Austin Counseling and Trauma Specialists, PLLC. I am one of those rare native born Austinites and I still love the City! I enjoy watching the city grow and I love the fun things brought to Austin Tx because of it's growth! However, it is not without some sacrifice of some of the quaintness Austin once had.

I have had a passion for counseling since 1998 and have put myself into volunteer jobs, paying jobs, education, and countless trainings to lead me to where I am today, a Licensed Professional Counselor- Supervisor! Now, in my own Austin therapy group practice, I'm excited every day to go to work and LOVE what I do!

My family all lives around the Austin Tx area and I'm grateful to get to be near them to spend time with them. I also cherish the friends I've made here, including some I've known since kindergarten! They all help me with a healthy work/life balance.

Outside of being an counselor, I occupy my time with family and friends, but I also love cars, all kinds of them. For me it is all about driving them and just enjoying the uniqueness of each one. I also enjoy singing, and while I am too shy to sing solo, I have sung in a men's choir and loved belting out those songs! I also love working in my yard and bike rides when it's not too hot! That's just a little about me. I'm really looking forward to learning about you! 

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 excited me about my future as I dreamed about being in private practice someday.

I am also 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! It is something I use daily in my practice. 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! Additionally, I supervise interns and LPC-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

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) through the state of Texas. My license number is 70432. I am very proud to be able to call myself a counselor and am passionate about my work. I'm also thrilled to get to work with interns and LPC-Associates to provide a health introduction into the field. I also get to learn from them and grow with them.

I work diligently to maintain the proper ethics and boundaries of the profession. This leads to good work with supervisees where we talk about cases, ethical issues, personal challenges, transference, and all the challenges and successes of counseling work. It is my pleasure to get to be a part of the development of professionals in the field so dear to me.

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. It is my hope that we continue to grow so that ACTS can help more and more clients reach their counseling goals through healthy therapeutic relationships and talented 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!

CONTACT US

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!

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