About Therin Slayton, PsyD
Online Therapy for Queer, Neurodivergent, and Creative Adults in Illinois
Howdy! I’m Therin (they/them)
If you’re tired of shrinking, masking, or over-explaining just to get through the day, I see you.
Many of the people I work with come to therapy feeling worn down by the sheer effort it takes to exist in a world that wasn’t built for them.
You might look like you’re functioning on the outside — but inside, you feel anxious, exhausted, misunderstood, or disconnected from yourself.
Therapy with me is a safe, affirming space where you don’t have to perform, justify who you are, or make yourself smaller to be accepted. You get to show up as your full self — exactly as you are.
Meet Therin
Who Am I?
You deserve a place where every part of you belongs.
I’m a genderqueer, neurodivergent, and disabled psychologist who works with queer and LGBTQIA2S+ adults, neurodivergent folks, disabled adults, and others navigating identity, anxiety, trauma, and the heavy pressure of expectations.
Many of my clients are used to being told they’re “too much,” “not enough,” or “doing life wrong.” They’ve spent years adapting, masking, or pushing past their limits just to fit in or get by. Over time, that takes a real toll.
In our work together, we focus on unlearning those harmful messages and creating a life that actually fits you — not the other way around.
Therapy with me isn’t about fixing you.
It’s about creating space to breathe, reconnect with your truth, and feel safer being yourself.
What Therapy Feels Like With Me
Therapy with me is collaborative, affirming, and deeply human.
You won’t be judged.
You won’t be rushed.
And you won’t be asked to explain, defend, or justify your identity.
In our first session, we’ll focus on helping you feel comfortable. You won’t be expected to share everything at once or push past your limits. We’ll talk about what brought you here, what feels hardest right now, and what support feels safest for you.
Over time, therapy may help you:
Untangle anxious, self-critical, or spiraling thoughts
Understand how masking, expectations, or past experiences still affect you
Build trust in your own needs, boundaries, and inner voice
Strengthen relationships without losing yourself
Reconnect with creativity, rest, and what brings meaning to your life
We’ll move at a pace that respects your nervous system, your energy, and your lived experience.
I Love Working With:
Queer and LGBTQIA2S+ adults, especially trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive folks
Neurodivergent adults navigating burnout, identity, or self-acceptance
Disabled adults seeking care that understands access needs and challenges ableism
Polyamorous and ethically non-monogamous individuals
Religious and spiritual minorities exploring faith, identity, and healing
Artists, creatives, and people who notice, feel, and think deeply about the world around them
Students — including non-traditional, graduate, and adult learners
If you’ve ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or pressured to fit into boxes that don’t work for you, you’re not alone — and you don’t have to navigate that alone.
How I Help
My approach to therapy is trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming, and grounded in compassion.
Rather than forcing you into a specific model, I adapt therapy to you. Together, we’ll gently explore what’s been weighing on you and build tools that support your wellbeing, autonomy, and sense of self.
Our work may include:
Exploring patterns that keep you stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected
Letting go of internalized expectations that no longer serve you
Strengthening emotional regulation and self-trust
Healing through connection, creativity, and community
This work isn’t about changing who you are — it’s about helping you feel more at home in yourself and your life.
Why I Do This Work
I know what it’s like to feel unseen or out of place in a world that expects conformity.
Originally from the Great Plains, I learned early how complicated it can be to exist outside the “straight and narrow.” While I pursued a doctorate in clinical psychology for strong clinical training, the heart of my work has always been empathy, affirmation, and respect for lived experience.
My goal is to create a space where you don’t have to justify your existence — you just get to be.
You deserve care that affirms who you are and supports you in building a life that truly fits.
Education and Experience
I am pre-licensed therapist under the supervision of Dr. Aretha Steele. I graduated with a doctorate in clinical psychology from Adler University. I have trained at several community mental health sites across Chicago, and two college counseling centers. I am honored to provide online counseling in Chicago and across Illinois.
Doing the work of therapy is courageous. I’d be honored to walk beside you at your pace—because healing is gentler and more fulfilling when we do it together.
More About Me
When I’m not doing therapy, you’ll probably find me playing video games with my chosen family, falling down rabbit holes on Wikipedia, discovering new music, hanging out with my calico Chex, trying my hand at baking or needle felting, taking a stroll to appreciate nature, or getting lost in a tabletop role-playing game.
Curiosity, creativity, play, and rest matter to me — and I believe they’re essential parts of healing, too.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. I provide virtual therapy for adults across Illinois.
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That’s completely normal. We’ll go at your pace, and you won’t be pressured to share more than feels safe.
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Yes. I often work with clients experiencing anxiety, chronic stress, masking fatigue, and burnout.
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Absolutely. I provide affirming care that respects access needs and neurodivergent ways of being.
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I accept BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna.
Let’s Get Started
Starting therapy is a courageous step — and you don’t have to take it alone.
If you reach out, our team will respond within 24–48 hours with gentle next steps. No pressure. No obligation. Just support.
I offer online therapy for adults across Illinois, and I’d be honored to work with you.