Dr. Austin Slade was raised in San Diego, California. He attended the University of California Santa Cruz and lived in Santa Cruz for a few years after graduation. Upon returning to San Diego, Dr. Slade began working at a homeless shelter, where he recognized the significant need for high-quality mental health services.

His training in clinical psychology has been diverse and comprehensive. He earned his doctorate at Alliant University in San Diego, and received extensive training during his pre and post-doc residencies at various prestigious institutions, including North County Lifeline, University of California San Diego Health, La Frontera (Tucson, AZ), and Sharp Hospital. Dr. Slade's diverse training has equipped him with a broad knowledge base and the ability to effectively address a wide range of mental health struggles.

In addition to his doctoral training, Dr. Slade sought out training in acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness interventions for addiction. He wrote his dissertation about how to use mindfulness to treat addiction. Dr. Slade constantly seeks new ways to help others and is currently expanding his skills through extensive training in somatic experiencing and internal family systems.