I am Bruce M. Whealton Jr. (born 1966), a living author, poet, family historian, and former clinical social worker from Wilmington, North Carolina. This is my biography. My late father, Bruce Whealton, is a different person.

This website brings together my writing and memorials for people I have loved. The reflections here come from the published books Memoirs of a Healer, Overcoming Shyness & Loving Lynn, Tell Me I’m Not Invisible, Three Times a Victim, and What Really Matters: Poems About Love, Loss & Trauma. Each story is drawn from lived experience, with the hope that vulnerability can be a small act of service to others.

A Lifetime of Healing and Writing

I graduated from Georgia Tech in 1988 and went on to earn graduate degrees supporting a career in clinical social work and psychology. I served as President of the New Hanover County chapter of the North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Workers, and I held a private practice focused on adults healing from trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and the long arc of grief.

My clinical approach drew from cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), person-centered therapy (Carl Rogers), experiential techniques, clinical hypnosis, psychoanalytic principles, and trauma-informed care. My approach always centered on empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive regard—the same qualities that had helped me heal from the emotional deprivation of childhood.

I served as President of the New Hanover County chapter of the North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Workers, organizing monthly peer meetings, continuing education workshops, and mentorship opportunities for fellow professionals.

Author & Poet

Writing has always been intertwined with my healing journey. Lynn and I co-founded Word Salad Poetry Magazine, one of the earliest online literary magazines, creating a platform for poets and writers to share their work. Our shared passion for poetry and literature became a cornerstone of our relationship.

I have published several books that explore themes of trauma, healing, love, and resilience:

• Memoirs of a Healer: Clinical Social Worker — Autobiography of Bruce Whealton
• Overcoming Shyness & Loving Lynn — A Memoir
• Labyrinth of the Mind
• Echoes of the Psyche
• Poems from the Invisible People
• Puncture Wounds II: More Nightmares
• Three Times a Victim: Living Under the Shadow of Toxic Shame
• What Really Matters: Poems About Love, Loss & Trauma
• Tell Me I’m Not Invisible: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Learning to Live Again

Family Heritage

The Whealton family genealogy traces back to Joshua Whealton Sr. (1787) and the Chincoteague, Virginia line dating to 1663. Our family has deep roots in American history, with ancestors who contributed to the founding and building of coastal Virginia communities.

For more family history and genealogical connections, see my Familypedia profile.

Contact

The easiest way to send photographs, memories, or notes about Lynn or Celta is by email. I read every message and am deeply grateful for any photo or memory you can share.

Email Bruce

Cite as: Bruce M. Whealton Jr. (1966-)