About
I am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in private practice in Austin, Texas. I’m honored that you have taken the time to find out more about me and the services I provide to the Austin community. I maintain three websites related to the different types of services I provide. Read on to find out more about the variety of services I provide in my private practice. Please visit www.hellomentalhealth.com to find out more about my behavioral health consulting services provided primarily to medical providers to assist with integrating medical and behavioral health within their practice. I am also a certified community mediator and I work to support a transition in the legal profession to Collaborative Law. Please visit www.cmcsmediation.com to find out more about the mediation work I do in partnership with Marilyn Glendenning. The site you are currently visiting, www.markdcatalano.com, is dedicated to my counseling and therapy practice.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
My professional work has been intentionally broad. After receiving a Masters in Science of Social Work (MSSW) from the University of Texas at Austin, I took a position working on the adult inpatient floor at Seton’s Shoal Creek Hospital. I eventually transitioned to leading adult and multi-family adolescent therapy groups in their intensive outpatient program. It was in these years that I became grounded in cognitive and behavioral theory and interventions. During these years I was also providing individual and couples counseling at the University of Texas Mental Health and Counseling Center. At Seton, I followed a natural progression into a management position over the inpatient and outpatient admitting departments providing a rich experience with mental health assessment and diagnosing. This position also provided wider community exposure and involvement on various task forces related to mental health issues in Austin. I developed a training program and protocol for facilitating the transfer of patients experiencing mental health crisis from the emergency room to the appropriate treatment facility. (Priority Transfer Protocol) Other professional work includes hospice, med-surg case managment, AISD Visiting Teachers.
More recently I worked with a pediatric practice in Austin developing an integrated care model. We developed a case management program and therapy services for children and families. When those projects were completed, I transitioned into the full time private practice work highlighted by this website.
PERSONAL
I have lived in Austin since the mid-eighties. I am married with four amazing children, 2 boys and 2 girls. I enjoy reading, writing music, playing piano/guitar, and spending time with family and friends. My wife and I help facilitate a spiritual renewal retreat twice each year through an international organization called Tres Dias. I recently facilitated a small group titled “An Introduction to Family Systems“.