Austa Murray

Compassionate, insight-focused therapy for life's challenges

LCSW Illinois

Experience: 22 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages: English

About Austa

Austa Murray is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Illinois who helps people address stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family challenges, trauma and abuse, self-esteem concerns, grief, and a range of related issues.

Background and approach

With 22 years of experience in mental health settings, she centers work on the goals a client brings and moves at a pace that feels comfortable while fostering a collaborative therapeutic connection. Her style is compassionate, non-judgmental, and educational, focusing on insight and skill development.

She draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as well as attachment and trauma-informed perspectives to help clients understand patterns, build coping skills, and develop healthier ways of relating to themselves and others. Austa also integrates client-centered and dialectical techniques when helpful, and applies developmental understanding to tailor interventions.

Sessions emphasize strengths, practical strategies, and thoughtful reflection. Austa works with people facing a wide range of concerns including parenting and adoption-related matters, caregiver stress, communication and commitment issues, dissociation and coping with life changes.

She offers a supportive space to create a plan that addresses each person’s individual needs and priorities.

Approaches in Online Care and What They Address

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and learning practical skills to shift thinking and behavior, often helping with anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Attachment-Based Therapy explores patterns in close relationships and how early bonds shape current emotional responses, which can be useful for intimacy concerns, abandonment or attachment issues, and family dynamics.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and the therapist collaborates with clients to determine which methods fit their goals and preferences. Together they review needs, try strategies, and adapt the plan over time so therapy stays aligned with evolving goals.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide flexibility in how people connect. These options make it easier to attend sessions around work, family, or caregiving responsibilities and allow continuity of care when in-person visits are impractical. Licensed professionals can use these formats to deliver skill-building, reflective work, and ongoing coaching in ways that fit each client’s routine.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?

Austa Murray works with many presenting issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy concerns, grief, parenting and adoption-related matters, ADHD, and compassion fatigue.

What is the overall therapeutic approach and style?

Her style is compassionate, non-judgmental, educational, and insight oriented, combining strengths-based work with skill development and reflective understanding.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has 22 years of experience working across individual, group, and family therapy settings and brings that background to each client engagement.

What credentials and location information are available?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the license IL LCSW 149.010100 and practices in Illinois.

In which language can sessions be conducted and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are conducted in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are offered for remote work?

Available formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.

How is cost handled for therapy sessions?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are needed to begin therapy?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Self esteem Depression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shame ImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Gottman MethodNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

22+ years

Licensed

Illinois

Languages

English