Honor + Celebrate Your Truth.
I’m Dr. Wayne Bullock, a licensed psychologist serving adults in Washington, DC, and neighboring areas. I offer in-person therapy for LGBTQ+ individuals to help them embrace their genuine colors and share them with the world.
Growing up gay and needing extensive speech therapy made me feel like an outsider. For many years, I’ve dealt with the piercing sensation of not belonging, feeling lost, unwanted, and different from the “norm.” These experiences motivated me to pursue clinical psychology and specialize in human sexuality, allowing me to heal and support others to be proud of who they are.
LGBTQ+ therapy opens the door to being and loving unconditionally.
Wherever you are in the LGBTQ+ rainbow, you are welcome here.
Contact me for a consultation or schedule an appointment today.
What Is LGBTQ+ Therapy or LGBTQ+ Counseling?
LGBTQ+ therapy is affirmative psychotherapy for members of the LGBTQ+ community. It consists of meeting with a mental health professional who is qualified and informed to provide exceptional care for LGBTQ+ folx as they face their distinct battles.
These challenges include stressors everybody deals with and the added barriers related to discrimination, abuse, and ignorance toward non-binary or non-heteronormative people.
Do You Need LGBTQ+ Therapy?
LGBTQ+ therapy can help you address anxiety, depression, trauma, sexual issues, and other common difficulties, honoring your unique identity and orientation.
But, this specialized treatment can also aid you in dealing with those particular obstacles you might endure as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
These hardships include:
-
Abuse (physical, sexual, or emotional)
-
Bullying or mistreatment
-
Fear, shame, and self-hatred
-
Feeling lonely and misunderstood
-
Finding and accepting your gender identity and/or sexual orientation
-
Misinformation or lack of knowledge about LGBTQ+ topics
-
Dating and navigating relationships
-
Self-harming or risky behaviors
-
Systemic prejudice and inequality
-
Transitioning
Are any of these resonating with you?
If so, LGBTQ+ therapy can help you attain the compassion, courage, and comfort you seek.
How Can LGBTQ+ Therapy Help?
LGBTQ+ therapy allows you to:
Tune in
You may be seeking support to understand who you are and who you love. Perhaps you are figuring out how you want to show up in the world and relate to those around you. Or maybe you want guidance to traverse and flow within the LGBTQ+ community.
Therapy offers a secure and confidential space to be curious and tune into yourself—your identity, orientation, desires, needs, and goals. I will facilitate sincere, kind, and sometimes challenging conversations for you to find and reflect on the answers you are looking for. This is your haven to explore, share, and connect with a deeper sense of self.
Embrace
Once you are in tune with your true colors, we will work on accepting and loving your whole self—including those parts you may not like or feel comfortable with yet.
Therapy can help you feel seen and validated to rediscover freedom, pride, and self-compassion. The goal is to empower you to take space and honor your uniqueness as you continue to walk your path.
Navigate
Aligning with and celebrating your truth can increase your confidence and hope. But they may fall short when abuse, bigotry, and unfair conditions are added into the mix.
Whether you struggle with everyday life stressors, mental health conditions, or specific LGBTQ+-related issues, therapy offers practical strategies to manage symptoms and navigate distress. I will propose exercises and coping techniques tailored to your particular case and identity, adjusting and changing courses as you heal.
While we’ve made huge strides, I know the LGBTQ+ community may continue to face hardship. And I also understand it’s impossible to prepare you for any foreseeable scenario in your life. Yet, I want to help you expand your perspective and build a toolkit you can pull from when difficulties arise.
Dr. Wayne Bullock | LGBTQ+ Therapist in Washington DC
I provide in-person LGBTQ+ therapy for adults in Washington, DC, and its surroundings (Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA; Bethesda, MD; and DC Metro Area).
As part of the LGBTQ+ community, I empathize with your pain and confusion. You deserve respect, love, and a chance to be unapologetically yourself. My hope is you can find insight, solace, and skills to grow as we enter this journey.
I follow a psychoanalytic approach, incorporating interpersonal and relational therapy. I see gender and sexuality as a spectrum and strive to be caring, collaborative, and candid. It’s all about finding a balance tailored to your individual needs.
Wondering whether we’d be a good fit? Book a free consultation to get a feel of how we would work together and ask questions. If we agree to move forward, we’ll schedule recurring appointments and get started with treatment.
Sessions are typically weekly and last 45 minutes.
I’m Here for You!
If you are looking for an affirming therapist to help you discover and stay true to yourself, I’m here to help.
Call (202) 505-2795 or connect with me to book a consultation.
Ready to get started? Schedule an appointment today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is LGBTQ+ affirming therapy?
LGBTQ+ affirming therapy recognizes that your sexual orientation or gender identity is not a problem to fix. It offers a supportive place to explore mental health, identity, relationships, sexuality, discrimination, family concerns, and other parts of your life without judgment.
Do I need to be out to begin LGBTQ+ therapy?
No. You can begin therapy whether you are out, questioning, selectively open, or not ready to share your identity with anyone else. Therapy can help you explore what feels safe and right for you without pressure to come out before you are ready.
Can you help me explore my sexual or gender identity?
Yes. As a sex and relationship therapist, I can give you space to explore attraction, gender, identity, and expression at your own pace. The goal is not to direct you toward a particular identity, but to help you understand yourself more clearly.
What if I have religious trauma or am dealing with family rejection?
Therapy can help you process shame, grief, fear, anger, or confusion connected to religious teachings, family expectations, rejection, or loss of community. It can also support you in setting boundaries and developing relationships where you feel respected.
Do I need to have an LGBTQ+-related concern to work with an affirming therapist?
No. You may be seeking help for anxiety, depression, trauma, work stress, relationships, or another concern that is not directly related to your identity. An affirming therapist can support your whole life without ignoring or making assumptions about the role identity plays in it.
How do I get to your office?
My office is located at 910 17th Street NW, Suite 419, Washington, DC 20006. The closest Metro stations are Farragut North and Farragut West, making the office accessible from many parts of Washington, DC and the surrounding Metro area.
When can I start therapy with you?
You can begin with a free introductory consultation to ask questions and discuss whether working together feels like a good fit. If you decide to continue, sessions are generally scheduled weekly and last about 45 minutes.