Meet Therin
Therin Slayton, PsyD
(they/them)
Areas of Focus: LGBTQIA+ concerns, polyamory, anxiety/stress, neurodiversity, life transitions, college students
Young Adults and Adults
Accepts BCBS PPO, Blue Choice PPO, and Aetna PPO
Available in Illinois only
Hi there! Thanks for stopping by to read more about me and my approach to therapy. My name’s Therin, and I’m a white, genderqueer, neurodivergent, disabled psychologist. My goal is to deeply understand what matters to you, so we can work together to create more fulfillment and choice in your life.
I am here to be an encouraging, supportive fellow traveler on your unique path to growth and healing. I see therapy as a partnership. I’ll bring some tools and fresh perspectives to help us navigate life twists and turns, but I’ll follow your lead.
Together, we’ll discover the power of staying present, being curious, and practicing grounded compassion during times of suffering and uncertainty. We’ll work to release what is not working, strengthen your relationships with trusted loved ones, and focus on what truly matters to you.
Perhaps most importantly, we’ll make sure to laugh along the way.
WHO I WORK WITH
My primary specialization is in working with folks who are part of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. I have a soft spot for the trans, nonbinary and gender expansive community, in particular. I also love working with students (non-traditional, too!), religious and spiritual minorities, disabled people, neurodiverse folks, ethically non-monogamous individuals, and artists of all kinds.
I offer virtual therapy in Chicago and across the state of Illinois.
HOW I HELP
I strive to, above all else, truly listen and understand you. I want to help you move toward what is authentic for you while honoring your unique identities, social contexts, ways of being, and histories.
Originally from the Great Plains, I understand how complicated it can be to navigate being yourself in a world that prefers the straight and narrow. Although I sought out a clinical psychology doctorate to ensure the best possible education in mental health care, the cornerstone of my work is accurate and genuine empathy. You are the expert on yourself, your life experiences, and your values.
Compassion, creativity, exploration, experimentation and genuine, transparent conversations are the foundations of my approach to therapy. I focus on building honest, comfortable, and empowering relationships to bring about the changes you’d like to see. In all my work, I strive for down-to-earth interactions and center your empowerment, safety, sincerity, and values.
I believe that, deep down, we often know what we need to create fulfillment in our lives. But sometimes it’s difficult to hear ourselves over the stress of daily life. I also believe that we cannot do life alone. Interdependence and connection are vital parts of being human, and healing is frequently easier when we do it with others.
Together, we can gain clarity about what really matters to us, shed restrictive expectations about what gives us worth, and work to shape our day-to-day so it brings ease, meaning, and nourishment – even amidst life’s uncertainty, pain and struggle.
Looking for a specific technique or theoretical approach?
I integrate several therapeutic approaches according to clients’ learning styles, needs, and preferences. That includes intersectional justice-focused frameworks, positive and strengths-based psychology, third-wave cognitive-behavioral therapies, mindfulness, self-compassion techniques, trauma recovery models, and attachment theory.
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 would be honored to accompany you, at whatever pace you like, on the journey. Self-reflection, discovery and change are not always easy, but they are gentler and more fulfilling when we do them together.
MORE ABOUT ME
When I’m not doing therapy, you’ll probably find me playing video games with my partners, falling down rabbit holes on Wikipedia, discovering new music and making playlists, hanging out with my cats (Chex and Zora), trying my hand at baking or gardening, or getting lost in a tabletop role-playing game.
REACH OUT TODAY!
You deserve to start feeling better. Let’s get started!