When Celeste Gracia was 17, her religiously conservative parents sent her to conversion therapy. This was the same summer that the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, giving queer people across the country cause for celebration. It would take years before Celeste felt that same joy and freedom, and today, the 27-year-old environment reporter at WUNC talks with Anita about how recent political events are prompting her to reflect on her decade-long path to healing. Anita also talks to therapist Jonathan Bell about how Celeste’s story fits into a broader context and why religious trauma is so challenging to heal.

Meet the guests:

- Celeste Gracia is an environment reporter at WUNC who has spent a decade untangling her religious trauma

- Jonathan Bell is a a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in helping queer clients with religious trauma

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