We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Syd Young. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Syd below.

Syd, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

Honestly, the defining moment in my career was when I realized that being a good clinician wasn’t enough—I wanted to serve my community in a more meaningful way. After doing a residency and fellowship at a big orthopedic clinic, I had all the tools and training, but something was missing. I kept asking myself, “Who am I really helping here?” And more importantly, “Where are my people?”

As a queer, trans person, I’ve had my share of uncomfortable and even unsafe experiences in medical spaces. And I have the privilege of presenting as a cis white woman, which means I can sometimes pass and avoid some of that harm. But I know so many folks in my community don’t have that privilege—and they’re getting worse care, or no care at all, because of it.

That’s what lit the fire. That’s why I started OutWellness.

I wanted to build a space where queer and trans folks don’t just show up—we belong. A place where people can move their bodies, heal from injury or surgery, and feel completely safe doing it. We started with one trans masc workout. Now we’ve got trans femme workouts, family-inclusive workouts, PT for folks recovering from top and bottom surgery—you name it. And we’re not done.

This wasn’t just a career shift. It was me finally aligning my skills with my values. I’m not interested in fitting into a broken system. I’m here to help build something better.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hey, I’m Dr. Syd Young (they/them), and I’m the founder of OutWellness—a queer-centered health and wellness space based in Austin, Texas. I’m a physical therapist by training, but at my core, I’m a community builder. I created OutWellness because I was tired of seeing my queer and trans family pushed to the margins of healthcare—ignored, misunderstood, or actively harmed.

My journey into this work started in traditional orthopedic clinics, where I completed both a residency and fellowship. On paper, I was doing everything right. But something felt wrong. The spaces I was working in weren’t made for people like me. They weren’t built for queer folks, fat folks, disabled folks, neurodivergent folks, or anyone who didn’t fit the cishet norm. I knew I could either keep pretending to fit into those spaces—or I could build something new.

So I built OutWellness. We offer physical therapy, personal training, massage, and acupuncture—but we do it differently. We center safety and identity in everything we do. Our team is queer and trans-led, and our clients don’t have to hide who they are. Whether someone is recovering from gender-affirming surgery, managing chronic pain, or just looking for a place to move their body without judgment—we’ve got them.

We also host free weekly Trans Masc and Trans Femme community workouts, because fitness and healing should be accessible, not gatekept. And yes, we lock the doors. Because safety isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a boundary we protect fiercely.

What sets us apart? It’s not just the care we provide—it’s the environment we create. We’re not here to make you fit in. We’re here to make you feel seen, respected, and celebrated.

What I’m most proud of is our community. The friendships that form at our workouts. The queer and trans elders and youth who show up and move together. The parents who reach out to find care for their trans kids and finally feel like someone gets it. That’s what keeps me going.

If you’re looking for a space where you don’t have to explain yourself before you get care—this is it. OutWellness isn’t just a clinic. It’s a home for people who’ve been told they don’t belong. We’re here to say: You do.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Honestly? It’s not just what you know—it’s how you show up. In my field, the most helpful thing beyond training is empathy. Deep, unshakable empathy. Because you’re not just working with bodies—you’re working with people’s lived experiences, identities, and traumas. Especially when you’re serving queer and trans folks, the ability to hold space, to listen without judgment, and to meet people exactly where they are is everything.

You also need to be flexible. Not every client fits the mold, and if you’re too attached to protocol over people, you’re going to miss the point. Success in this work means being able to pivot—whether that’s adapting a movement for a client with chronic pain or creating a whole new approach because someone doesn’t feel safe in a traditional setting.

And finally, you have to give a damn. This work asks a lot of you—emotionally, mentally, sometimes physically. If you’re not deeply invested in the people you serve, it’s easy to burn out or check out. What keeps me grounded is knowing I’m part of something bigger than myself. I’m not just treating injuries—I’m helping people reclaim their bodies, their power, and their sense of belonging.

So yeah—knowledge matters. But empathy, adaptability, and commitment to community? That’s what makes the difference.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One big lesson I had to unlearn? That professionalism means neutrality.

Coming up in traditional PT settings, I was taught to keep my identity out of the room. That being “professional” meant being apolitical, emotionless, and basically invisible. And for a while, I really believed that. I thought showing up as me—as a queer, non-binary person—would somehow make me less credible, or that my clients wouldn’t take me seriously.

But here’s the truth: the more I tried to neutralize who I was, the more disconnected I felt—from my work, from my patients, and from myself. And the more I did show up fully—as myself, unapologetically—the more meaningful my work became. Especially for the queer and trans clients walking into a system that already tells them they don’t belong. Being visibly out, using inclusive language, creating a radically affirming space—those aren’t “extra.” That is the work.

I had to unlearn that blending in was safer. It’s not. For me, being real is what builds trust. It’s what builds community. And in this political climate, visibility is advocacy. My presence is a statement: You deserve care. You deserve safety. You deserve to take up space.

So yeah, I let go of the idea that I had to shrink myself to fit into the system. Instead, I built a new one.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.outwellnessatx.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outwellnessatx/?next=%2F
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/syd-young-pt-dpt-faaompt/

Image Credits

Dez Rose at Elkk Photography