About Austin 

One of my earliest memories:

I couldn’t have been more than 6 years old. I sat my grandpa down on a stool in my parents' garage and asking him the question that had become my favorite game: what's your problem?

The object of the game was for me to understand what the adult wanted, and to try to come up with a solution to help. I remember feeling laser-focused, turning the challenge over in my head to try to understand what it was that this person needed. 

These days, I've had enough training to not give advice (or work with family!). But that feeling, the core of curiosity and attunement, remains. I still feel most energized by helping people learn something about themselves and how they can make their lives better.

As a transgender, SWANA, neurodivergent person growing up in the midwestern US, I often felt like I was on the outside looking in. When I began working in human services in 2009, formally learning about supporting people throughout the lifespan felt like putting a missing puzzle piece into place.

No work feels more meaningful to me than seeing somebody step into their full, genuine self.