Faith, Fatherhood & Forgiveness: Austin Davis Breaks the Cycle

In this powerful episode, we talk with Austin Davis, a licensed professional counselor and founder of Clearfork Academy, about how childhood identity, faith, and resilience shape mental health outcomes.

This episode highlights the intersections of childhood trauma, the search for identity, spiritual awakening, and breaking generational cycles. Austin shares his journey from a 10-year-old tasked with being “the man of the house” to a father, therapist, and founder of a life-changing teen treatment center.

Welcome back to Sh!t That Goes On In Our Heads—an award-winning mental health podcast with over 1 million downloads! We're honored to be the 2024 People's Choice Podcast Award Winner for Health and the 2024 Women In Podcasting Award Winner for Best Mental Health Podcast.

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"When we focus too hard on not becoming something, we often become exactly that. Healing is found in accepting what made us and choosing differently." – Austin Davis

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Meet Our Guest: Austin Davis, LPC-S

Originally from the Saginaw, Eagle Mountain area, Austin Davis is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in Texas. He holds a B.S. in Pastoral Ministry from Lee University and an M.A. in Counseling from The Church of God Theological Seminary.

Austin’s career bridges the church and clinical mental health worlds. He has served youth through ministry and worked extensively in state mental health hospitals, gaining experience with nearly every mental health diagnosis.

He is the founder of Clearfork Academy, a Christ-centered residential treatment center for teens struggling with mental health and substance use. He thrives on working with clients others might call “difficult,” driven by compassion and clinical skill.

Austin is also the author of My Kid, My Crisis (2023), a moving collection of stories and insights into parenting, faith, and therapeutic transformation in the face of teen mental health challenges.

When he's not working, Austin enjoys being with his family, making music, woodworking, reading, and staying active.

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📚 Austin’s Book

My Kid, My Crisis – Austin Davis (2023) A collection of real-life stories from the therapy room, My Kid, My Crisis explores the emotional and spiritual journeys of families facing teen mental health and substance use challenges. Through Christ-centered therapy and community, the book offers hope, guidance, and support for parents walking a difficult road. Available now at: https://a.co/d/0QMcKSd

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📌 Key Takeaways

1. Labels Matter: Childhood roles, like being told you're “the man of the house,” can deeply shape identity and emotional development.
2. Faith as a Framework: Finding purpose and healing through spirituality helped Austin redirect his life, and now he helps others do the same.
3. Building Early Interventions: Clearfork Academy is designed to help teens pivot in life before reaching a crisis point in adulthood.

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✅ Actionable Items

1. Explore Your Own Origin Story – Journaling your earliest roles and expectations can uncover hidden beliefs that impact your mental health.
2. Start Mental Health Conversations Early—Whether your teen is showing symptoms or not, open dialogue is preventive care.
3. Set a Gro