EPISODE 109: JESS

Jess was raised in the Mormon church and was a perfectly happy child - until she was sexually assaulted by two neighbors at 11 years old. Even at that young age, she had the self-possession to report the incident, only to be told by the church that the assault was her fault. This was the origin of Jess's "bad picker," as she calls it; she found herself drawn to abusive relationships before extricating herself from the church and its dogma. The journey from oppression to autonomy was dynamic and deeply difficult, and, Jess is ready to share the whole story. She has done a lot of healing work already, and her strength and smarts shine at every turn. Still, despite her remarkable resilience, she continues to struggle with the symptoms of CPTSD, and she comes to the show hoping Renée can provide the elusive layer of healing that will finally free her. Renée can, but not before Jess takes us through a ton of trauma twists and turns. Religion, relationships, suicide, sexuality, body image, babies, and more: all leading up to a beautifully happy ending.Support the show