Austin Swierk
INTERN
He/Him/His
“We all change. When you think about it… we’re all different people, all throughout our lives. And that’s OK, that’s good, you gotta keep moving – so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.”
-Doctor Who, The 11th Doctor
Life rarely goes exactly the way we plan, and when it hits hard, it can feel impossible to get back up on your own. I know that feeling well. For a long time, I tried to shoulder everything myself, believing I had to be the strong one who never needed help. Over time, I learned that asking for support isn’t weakness — it’s actually one of the bravest things we can do. As a therapist-in-training, my goal is to be that steady person for anyone who’s tired of fighting alone and ready to work with someone who will meet them with patience, collaboration, and honesty.
I’m currently a graduate student at The Chicago School for Clinical Mental Health Counseling and plan to pursue additional training in CBT, DBT, and Exposure and Response Prevention. I also offer faith-based counseling for clients who want to integrate their Christian beliefs into therapy. Although I’m early in my formal counseling career, I bring nearly a decade of experience working in mental health — from Applied Behavioral Analysis with neurodivergent youth, to adult case management, to acute inpatient stabilization. I’ve also had my own lived experience with OCD, anxiety, and depression, and those chapters of my life give me a deep understanding of how overwhelming, exhausting, and defeating those struggles can feel. They also give me hope, because I know firsthand that things can change.
My hope is that clients feel safe, heard, understood, and genuinely confident in their ability to recover. Things like depression and anxiety can feel so overwhelming that it can often feel like it will never improve. That is how it often felt for me when I reached my low points. I want clients to know that it DOES get better when you put the work in and you CAN turn your life around for the better. I’m a very approachable and open person, I love to listen and learn about others. During my sessions, I want my clients to feel like I am the journal they can write in every week and feel better EVERY TIME they walk out that door.
When I’m not working with clients, I love spending time with friends, reading, playing video games, learning more about my faith, and continuing my education. Listening to music is my favorite pastime, and I’m always searching for new songs or genres to dive into. I’m learning how to cook — partly for my fitness goals and partly to make meals for my beautiful wife. I have two amazing dogs, Koda and Moose, and I love being out in nature with them. As the weather warms up, I plan to spend more time outside hiking trails or ruck-sacking. I enjoy movies and shows ranging from Marvel to anime (not so much horror), and I’ve recently started exploring American and world history. There’s a lot I still want to learn, and I’m always looking for new things to discover.
Ages: Any
Location: Voorhees & Online Counseling in the State of New Jersey
Experience: OCD, Anxiety, Depression, Religion/Faith
Clients: Counseling for Children, Teens and Adults