Christy Austin, LCSW

Christy Austin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the mental health field since 2009. She received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Temple University, and a Master's in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University.

She loves working with adult clients in areas of identity (including gender/sexual identity), relationships, stress/anxiety, and family-of-origin issues. She also works with both traditional and non-traditional couples (dyads or other) to address issues of communication while fostering mutual love, care, trust, and respect and restoring harmony in relationships.

Christy utilizes elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, nonviolent communication, Internal Family Systems, and Mindfulness while taking time to ground and balance the energies of the body and establish safety within the individual or unit.

Her areas of experience include relationship conflict, trauma, crisis and suicide help, substance use disorders, anger management, and domestic violence.

As a co-founder of the first SMART Recovery meetings in Richmond in 2014, Christy is also well-versed in facilitating groups and working with individuals struggling with recovery and their partners or family members.

Christy takes a strengths-based, proactive approach to treatment to facilitate healing while building lifelong skills and a strong sense of self-worth.