Dr. Jude Austin

Dr. Jude T. Austin II is a nationally recognized counselor educator, clinician, author, and speaker whose work integrates teaching, research, practice, and professional leadership. He earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and holds multiple credentials, including Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist-Supervisor (LMFT-S), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC). He currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Counseling Program at the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, where he is the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track Coordinator. In addition to his academic role, he maintains a thriving private practice in Belton, Texas, where he works with individuals, couples, and families.

Dr. Austin’s research focuses on counselor education pedagogy, with a particular emphasis on cultivating therapeutic presence in counseling students. He has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, most recently co-authoring Counselor educator and program characteristics: Impacts on student development of therapeutic presence in Counselor Education and Supervision (2025). His scholarship continues to shape best practices in counselor training and program design. He is also the co-author of several influential books, including Surviving and Thriving in Your Counseling Program (2020), The Counselor Educator’s Guide: Practical In-Class Activities (2020), Counselor Self-Care (2nd ed., 2023), and Doing Counseling: Developing Your Clinical Skills and Style (2019). His forthcoming book, Mind Your Business: Merging Meaningful Work with Financial Wisdom (American Counseling Association, 2026), further demonstrates his commitment to addressing both the clinical and practical dimensions of the counseling profession.

At the University of Mary Hardin–Baylor, Dr. Austin has earned distinction as the only faculty member to have received both the Excellence in Teaching Award and the Excellence in Scholarship Award, underscoring his rare ability to balance high-quality instruction with a strong record of research productivity.

An active contributor to the profession, Dr. Austin has presented extensively at national, regional, and state conferences. He is a frequent presenter at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Annual Conference, where he has delivered sessions on counselor self-care, counselor education best practices, therapeutic presence, and professional development. Regionally, he has presented at the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) conference, and locally he has contributed to the Texas Counseling Association (TCA) and Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (TAMFT) conferences.

Beyond traditional conference settings, Dr. Austin is also an accomplished keynote speaker. He has delivered invited keynote addresses for the Louisiana Counseling Association, the Canadian Counseling Association, and the North Dakota Counseling Association, as well as at universities such as Arkansas State University. His keynote presentations are known for blending humor, scholarship, and practical insights, leaving audiences both inspired and equipped with tangible strategies.

With a career spanning teaching, clinical practice, research, authorship, and national leadership, Dr. Austin is dedicated to advancing the counseling profession. His work consistently reflects a commitment to training the next generation of counselors, supporting faculty development, and promoting counselor wellness.