Austin Alderton is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who brings honesty, practical wisdom, and real-world experience to mental healthcare. Born in Hawaii and raised in Michigan, Austin has built his life and career across four states before finding his home in Colorado, drawn by his passion for snowboarding and skiing in the mountains he now calls home.

Education and Background

Austin earned his nursing degree from Spring Arbor University, a small private college in Michigan. Before transitioning to mental health, he spent 13 years working in emergency medicine, serving at Level 1 trauma centers across Michigan, Hawaii, Texas, and Colorado. His emergency medicine career included time at a pediatric Level 1 trauma center alongside adult emergency care.

Austin’s shift from emergency medicine to psychiatry came from a profound realization. Working in the ER, he witnessed countless tragedies and began to recognize a pattern: many of the crises he treated could have been prevented if patients had been happier and healthier in their mental and emotional lives. He realized that while emergency medicine often felt futile, addressing mental health offered the opportunity for true prevention and lasting change.

His decision to pursue psychiatry also emerged from personal experience. From 2019 to 2024, Austin navigated his own journey through mental health during a difficult chapter of his life. Having felt that depth of struggle himself, he discovered a calling he couldn’t ignore. He also noticed something unexpected: people seemed to open up to him naturally, even strangers in public spaces. This combination of personal understanding and natural connection pointed him toward a career where he could make a real difference.

Care Philosophy

Austin’s approach is grounded in honesty and accountability. He believes in establishing clear expectations from the first session: patients can expect him to assess their lives openly and provide straightforward guidance on how to improve. His style works best for patients who are ready to take an active role in their recovery and want direct feedback rather than extended validation.

Having witnessed trauma and suffering throughout his emergency medicine career, Austin brings a perspective shaped by experience. This allows him to meet patients without judgment, no matter what they share. His extensive background means he can receive difficult disclosures with genuine acceptance and often respond with hope drawn from real examples he’s witnessed of people overcoming similar challenges.

Austin is a strong advocate for physical wellness as a foundation for mental health. His guiding principle is simple: health is wealth. He encourages patients to understand that physical strength can build mental strength. Even when motivation is low, movement matters. He believes that taking action, like going for a walk, is almost always possible and can create positive momentum.

Personal Interests

Outside the clinic, Austin is deeply committed to fitness and outdoor activities. He’s an avid snowboarder and skier, and Colorado’s mountain access was a primary reason for relocating to the state. He maintains a general fitness routine and often encourages his patients to explore physical activity as part of their healing journey.

Austin is also an enthusiastic reader, always seeking to expand his understanding and perspective. Having lived in four different states and navigated significant life transitions, he relates well to patients experiencing change, relocation, or the challenge of starting over.

What to Expect

Austin’s greatest hope is that patients come prepared to actively participate in their own recovery. He offers deep commitment and genuine care, but he asks for something in return: effort. He’ll go above and beyond for his patients, even calling on his days off if he’s concerned about someone’s wellbeing. But he needs patients to implement the strategies they discuss together.

His approach is honest: if a patient isn’t following through on agreed-upon goals, he’ll address it directly. He believes that growth requires both parties to show up fully. For patients seeking authentic communication and a collaborative treatment approach, Austin provides unwavering support and genuine dedication to helping them achieve their goals.