Dr. Karla Austin is a licensed Psychologist and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of Texas. She obtained her bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Lubbock Christian College, a masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Abilene Christian University and her doctorate from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Her doctorate is a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology.
Dr. Austin began counseling in 1987 working with a variety of clientele. She saw many teens through the Juvenile Justice system, in group homes and from chaotic home environments. She helped young girls deal with living away from home while facing puberty and social pressures. She also did contract work with Rape Crisis and juvenile probation helping adults and teens coping with crisis recovery and the legal system. Her private practice began in 1989 and included a variety of marriage and family issues. While her location changed, her population always included couples, individuals, children, teens and families.
Upon completion of her doctoral coursework, Dr. Karla Austin worked as a prison psychologist in the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, a men’s prison. There, she was a doctoral intern and performed intake evaluations, did short term therapy with inmates and group therapy dealing with substance abuse, anger management, relationship issues, and parenting. She worked to help inmates deal with the trauma of their incarceration and the events leading up to it, and helped prepare them for successful life with their families upon their release. She also did staff training involving their work with the inmate population and their relationships with one another.
Dr. Austin’s internship at the prison was complemented with part-time work in the Intensive Care Units at both Childrens’ Hospital and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. There, she worked with the patients, families, and staff, helping them deal with the devastation, grief and loss surrounding them.
Since 1998, Dr. Karla Austin has been in private practice in the Dallas area. Her primary office location is in Irving where her roots began. She has done speaking in the areas of marriage and family, talks regarding her dissertation topic, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and been an expert witness in the Dallas courts system. Dr. Austin enjoys helping people reach their potential, whether it is helping an individual set and reach goals or assisting a couple or family enjoy more meaningful and satisfying relationships.