Complex Trauma Therapy
in Washington, DC

There's no simple way to describe what it's like to live with complex trauma.

You may carry a quiet, persistent ache—woven into your relationships, your self-worth, and your daily life. There may be moments where this explodes into something much louder and intrusive in your life. You might feel like you’re “crazy” or “out of control.”

But healing is possible. You can find clarity, peace, and renewed strength.

Reclaim Your Voice + Begin to Heal.

I'm Dr. Wayne Bullock, a licensed psychologist based in Washington, DC. I work with adults who have experienced complex trauma, including those in the LGBTQ+ community, to create a compassionate space where healing and growth can take root.

The effects of long-standing, repeated trauma often don’t fade on their own. Instead, they linger—in your thoughts, in your body, and in how you navigate the world. But together, we can explore these experiences, understand their impact, and help you move toward a life that feels more whole, safe, and free.

What Is Complex Trauma?

Complex trauma (also known as C-PTSD) arises from ongoing or repeated exposure to distressing events, especially in early life or over a prolonged period of time. This can include emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, chronic neglect, or environments that lacked safety and care.

Unlike a single traumatic event, complex trauma often involves violations by caregivers, authority figures, or loved ones. It can occur at any time, but typically occurs during formative, developmental years. Complex trauma is relational in nature, in that it impacts your sense of identity, trust, and connection.

You may have had to adapt in ways that helped you survive—but those same patterns can now make life feel disconnected or overwhelming.

Complex Trauma Sources

Though the origins of complex trauma can be varied, here are some common sources:

Childhood abuse or neglect
Growing up in an invalidating or unsafe household
Ongoing emotional abuse from partners or family
Bullying or systemic discrimination (including racism, homophobia, or transphobia)
Living in persistent fear or threat
Repeated medical trauma or institutional harm (this can occur even in situations where nothing “wrong” happened such as the experience of having invasive medical procedures that leave you feeling violated or intruded upon).

Common Effects of Complex Trauma

Complex trauma can manifest in different ways depending on the individual. Here are some of the most common symptoms individuals struggling with C-PTDS might experience:

Difficulty trusting others or forming close relationships
Feelings of shame, worthlessness, or chronic self-doubt
Emotional numbness or dysregulation (feeling too much or not enough)
Deep fears of abandonment or rejection
A persistent sense of being “different,” broken, or unsafe
Perfectionism, people-pleasing, or high self-criticism
Intrusive memories or flashbacks
Disconnection from your body or identity

These responses are not flaws—they are signs that your mind and body learned how to cope with the unthinkable.

How Complex Trauma Therapy Can Help

Healing from complex trauma is not about "fixing"you—it's about understanding what happened, how it affected you, and how to support your system as it begins to feel safe again.

In therapy, we will:

Uncover + Understand

We’ll gently explore your experiences—past and present—with compassion and without judgment. You don’t have to tell your whole story at once. We will go at your pace. Together, we’ll identify the ways complex trauma may be shaping your sense of self and relationships.

Reprocess + Reclaim

As we create clarity, we’ll begin to untangle how past survival strategies may be showing up today—sometimes in ways that no longer serve you. We’ll work to reframe your trauma, releasing the shame and false beliefs you may have carried for far too long.

Restore + Soothe

You’ll learn strategies to regulate your nervous system, cope with intense emotions, and ground yourself in the present. With time and care, you’ll begin to experience more ease, connection, and a deeper sense of self-trust.

Complex Trauma Therapist in Washington DC

Let's Begin This Work—Together

As a gay therapist, I recognize the profound impact that chronic invalidation, societal marginalization, and identity-based trauma can have—especially for LGBTQ+ individuals navigating a world that hasn't always been safe or affirming.

You deserve to feel seen, respected, and understood—not just as a person with trauma, but as a whole and complex human being. Our work together will honor your full identity and unique lived experience.

Therapy for complex trauma can feel daunting, especially if you've been let down or hurt in the past. But it's never too late to begin.

I provide in-person psychotherapy to adults in Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas—including Arlington, VA; Alexandria, VA; Bethesda, MD; and the DC Metro region. My approach is psychoanalytic, interpersonal, and always grounded in empathy.

We'll start with a free phone consultation to explore whether this is the right fit. If you decide to continue, we’ll meet weekly for 45-minute sessions at a pace that feels safe for you.