What If It Wasn’t Just One Thing? Understanding Complex Trauma with John Horton-Young

We often think of trauma as a single, defining event. But what if the real wound wasn’t one moment—it was a pattern? A long stretch of not feeling safe, loved, or even seen?

In this episode, we sit down with John Young, a psychotherapist who specializes in Complex Trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder. He’s also the founder of the Complex Trauma Initiative, which helps survivors access the care they need—care that’s often hard to find, and even harder to afford.

Together, we explore:

• The difference between trauma and complex trauma
• Why so many people live with its effects without ever realizing it
• What happens when standard therapy does more harm than good
• And how to begin the slow, relational work of healing with the right kind of support.

This one goes deep. Because when we understand the roots of our pain, we can begin to rewire how we relate—to ourselves, to others, and to the world.