Charity Cortez, LCSW

I experience myself as a ‘call & response’ kind of person. I am at my best when I am a participant in a dynamic, engaging connection with another person. In my role as therapist, I am honored to respond to your call to be seen, supported, and understood.

I see therapy as an opportunity to build a space of exploration and healing for you and with you. My way of being with you is an offering of thoughtful care, grounded in a commitment to mindful presence, emotional sturdiness, nonjudgmental inquiry & a spirit of collaboration.

My approach to therapy is grounded in contemporary understandings of trauma recovery, interpersonal neurobiology, attachment theory, relationship dynamics, and the stages of change. My perspective is also informed by my lifelong (and continually developing) understandings of intersectional feminist theory, gender studies, and western Buddhist psychology. I draw much inspiration from the important work of contemporary artists, writers, visionaries, and change-makers.

Together, we will decide how we’d like to incorporate different experiential, creative, reflective, and relational modalities into our work, as we explore your hopes and concerns.

“In a world full of people who seem to know everything, passionately, based on little (often slanted) information, where certainty is often mistaken for power, what a relief it is to be in the company of someone confident enough to stay unsure (that is, perpetually curious).”        

~ George Saunders

dynamic, engaging, & affirming

I start and end each day with a commitment to bringing my full humanity to meet yours.

I rely on my creativity, intuition, and humor, just as much as I lean on my years of clinical experience, collaborative work in the field as a social worker, and advanced study of psychological themes.

I embrace your complexity, as much as I embrace my own.

I bring warmth, gentleness, curiosity, and a deep respect for the challenges and beauties of living this human experience.

More about me

I hold a graduate degree in Clinical Social Work (University of Texas at Austin, 2009), and am licensed to practice in Texas (LCSW TX #53477).

In order to bring my best self to this work. I engage in my own individual therapy, and also participate in a long-term process group and professional consultation group. My commitment to ongoing learning has led me to a wide range of post-graduate educational trainings focused on psychological themes and social justice. Learning and developing new understanding and insight lights me up!

I am intentional about living a full life that nurtures my humanity. I make lots of space to experience my inquisitive and wild human self - in nature, in music, and in other creative expressions. I am an active parent, a student of western herbalism, a daydreamer, a shy singer, a patio gardener, and a lover of poetry.

I look forward to learning more about you!

 My Values

~ My approach is welcoming, collaborative, culturally humble and genuinely inclusive.

~ I commit to fostering safe connections, and utilize trauma-responsive practices.

~ I invest in deconstructing old ideas and exploring questions, rather than acting on presumptions - particularly around experiences of race, class, and gender.

~ I openly support all varieties of personal and relational expressions.

~ I am a strong and committed LGBTQ+ ally and advocate.