ABOUT ME

I’m Austin Houghtaling, a licensed marriage and family therapist with nearly 20 years experience leading large clinical teams and programs in the treatment of trauma, addiction, marital strain, and family of origin work. I specialize in working with individuals and couples in public-facing professions, such as business leaders and professionals, entertainers and creatives. I’ve delivered experiential keynote presentations to large audiences around the country on subjects including emotional intelligence, addiction, and trauma, as well as their impacts on family and business systems. I am proficient in group therapy, multi-couples/family groups, and working with leadership and business teams. I especially enjoy consulting and clinical supervision in my areas of specialization. 

I am happily married and have three wonderful children. Oh, and we have an 11-pound wannabe dog named Count Theodore William McFluffy-Britches of the Highland McFluffy-Britches. But we just call him Teddy.

And now that the professional stuff is out of the way…

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME:

  • I like humor. A lot. I have a collection of funny video clips, quotes, movie scenes, and jokes that I visit often when I need a little pick-me-up. And in case that’s the kind of therapy you need from time to time, here’s a pdf with links to some videos that crack me up.

  • I am tall. Like, missed-my-calling-by-not-becoming-a-professional-basketball-player tall. It’s best to get this out of the way before we meet in person. It can be a little intimidating for some people. 

  • I tell stories. Humans have an uncanny ability to connect around a narrative. Regardless of the story we are almost always able to extract meaning from it and apply it to our own lives. That’s why I use my personal experiences to share stories with my clients. It fosters genuine connection and usually provides a helpful way to explore ideas and concepts that can be elusive.

  • My family is incredibly important to me. We actually enjoy being together, so a lot of my stories come from adventures and experiences with my wife and kids. You’re likely to hear about them if we spend any amount of time together. 

  • I enjoy the outdoors. Being in nature is one of my favorite things to do, whether camping, hiking, or just sightseeing. There’s nothing quite like breathing in the fresh air and taking in the unparalleled beauty of mountains, oceans, deserts, and forests.

  • I love photography. I enjoy viewing galleries and seeing the world through an artist’s perspective. That’s why when you visit Vista Counseling, you’ll be greeted at every turn with large prints of soaring vistas and peaceful waterscapes. I’m such a fan that I wanted to structure my website like a photography site but my designer said people shouldn’t be confused about whether they’re looking at a gallery or learning about a therapist. As a compromise, we curated this page with some of my favorite photos, as well as links to work from two photographers I admire. Feel free to take a moment of pause and take in the beauty.