INDEPENDENTLY LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER

Aaron Christopher Slusher

Trans-Affirming Therapist for Neurodivergent & LGBTQIA+ Young Adults & Middle-Aged

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Pronouns: He/Him/His

Licensure: LCSW

Location: Virginia & Telehealth

Languages: English

Accepting New Clients: Yes

Sliding Scale: Yes

Insurance: To be confirmed

About Aaron

I was born in rural SW Virginia. I figured out I had been misgendered by the time I was four, but it took me another 37 years to do anything about it. I was a "gifted" kid growing up and have all the quirks that memes attribute to the formerly gifted kids. I feel like I have finally found my career, it only took like 12 tries to get here. I spent most of my first 41 years thinking about ways to die, and the last 15 trying to help others want to live. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 51 and although I've never been officially diagnose I'm probably somewhere on the autism spectrum, I am definitely neurospicy. I love all animals, but especially dogs and horses. I've rarely met a hobby I wouldn't love to try, although I may never finish the project I start.

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Specialties

  • ADHD

  • Anxiety

  • LGBQ+ (sexuality)

  • Transgender people

  • Depression

  • School issues

  • Self-Esteem

  • Worth

  • Compassion

  • Social Anxiety

  • Suicidal Thoughts

  • Gender Identity

  • Dysphoria

  • Euphoria Gender Nonbinary

  • Non-conforming, queer, expansive, or agender people

  • Gender-affirming care letter writing for Transgender People

  • Intersex people

  • Life Transitions

  • Midlife Stress

  • Neurodivergence

  • Panic

  • Political & Climate Stress

  • Polyamory/Non-Monogamy/Open Relationships,

  • Asexuality

  • Aromantic

  • Gray, Demi

  • ACE Spectrum

  • Autism Spectrum

  • Bipolar Patterns

  • Body Image, Body Dysmorphia, Body Neutrality and Acceptance, Body Positive

  • Career, Coaching Career, Counseling

  • Climate Anxiety

  • First Responders

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Areas of Focus

  • Ecological, Climate & Animal Justice

  • Fat Liberation

  • Free Gender-Affirming Care Letter Provider for Transgender People (fully pro-bono process)

  • Gender-Affirming Care Access Advocate (TGNB)

  • Gender-Affirming Care Knowledgable (TGNB)

  • HIV Ally

  • Neurodivergence Justice

  • Peer Support

  • Transgender Justice

  • Pet Loss and Complicated Grief

  • Compassion Fatigue

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Modalities

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Autistic-Affirming or Centered Therapy

  • Compassion Focused

  • Culturally Responsive/Affirming

  • EMDR

  • Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)

  • Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

  • Mindfulness Based Therapy (including MBCT),

  • Motivational Interviewing

  • Narrative Therapy

  • Neurodivergent-Affirming Therapy

  • Person-Centered Therapy

  • Positive Psychology

  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy

  • Strength-Based

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Lived Experience
and Perspective

  • Autistic Person

  • Gender Nonbinary

  • Non-Conforming, Queer, Expansive, or Agender

  • LGBQ+ Sexuality

  • Man or Masc

  • Neurodivergent Person

  • Older Adult

  • Transgender

  • White/European Diaspora

Why I Do This Work

I believe that every person has a purpose and a reason for being. I believe that we all instinctually know who we are supposed to be and how we are supposed to get there. Unfortunately, we often don't trust ourselves enough to follow what we know. I could quote a lot from Doctor Who, but I won't.

- Aaron C. Slusher 
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My Approach in Practice

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I believe you're more than a diagnosis, a symptom, or a list of problems to solve. Rather than trying to fit you into someone else's idea of what "healthy" should look like, we'll explore who you are, what matters to you, and what kind of life feels meaningful on your own terms.

Many of the people I work with have spent years feeling like they were "too much," "not enough," or somehow different from everyone around them. Some have learned to hide parts of themselves just to get through the day. Others have spent so long meeting other people's expectations that they've lost touch with what they actually want. Together, we'll make space to understand those experiences with curiosity rather than judgment.

My approach draws from evidence-based therapies including ACT, EMDR, Narrative Therapy, mindfulness, compassion-focused work, and neurodivergent-affirming care. These aren't rigid techniques I apply to everyone. They're tools we can use together in ways that fit your goals, your identity, and how your mind works.

I believe people already carry an incredible amount of wisdom about themselves, even if life has made it difficult to trust it. My role isn't to tell you who you should become. It's to help you reconnect with yourself, develop practical skills when they're helpful, and build a life that feels authentic, sustainable, and worth living.

What Clients Often Come to Me For

People often reach out when life feels heavy, layered, or difficult to put into words.

People wondering where they belong

Whether you're questioning your gender, sexuality, neurodivergence, or simply who you've become, we'll create space to explore your identity without pressure to have all the answers.

People exhausted from trying to fit in

Many clients have spent years masking, people-pleasing, or trying to become who they thought they were supposed to be. Together, we'll help you reconnect with the parts of yourself you've learned to hide.

Caregivers, advocates & helping professionals

If you've spent years supporting everyone else, it can be difficult to know what you need yourself. This is a space where your wellbeing gets to matter too.

Anxiety, depression & self-worth

When life feels overwhelming, it's easy to lose trust in yourself. We'll build practical tools while exploring the experiences, relationships, and beliefs that have shaped how you see yourself.

People carrying political, climate, or existential stress

When the world feels overwhelming, your distress doesn't always mean something is wrong with you. Together, we'll explore how to stay connected to hope, purpose, and the things that matter most to you.

People looking for community beyond "normal"

Many people come to therapy feeling like they don't quite fit into the boxes they've been given. Together, we'll explore how to build a life and relationships where you don't have to shrink yourself to belong.

Neurodivergent & LGBTQIA+ adults navigating life transitions

Whether you're coming out, transitioning, receiving a new diagnosis, changing careers, or entering a new chapter of life, you don't have to figure it out alone.

Clients can expect unconditional acceptance, sincere support, and occasionally
a little tough love.

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