53: Navigating Spirituality Without Harm: An Interview with SC Nealy

About this episode

SC Nealy discusses the intersection of spirituality, mental health, and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.

In this conversation, SC Nealy and I discuss the impact of beliefs and oppressive systems on the creation of trauma, emphasizing the need for healthier approaches to spirituality and community involvement. We discuss their work in the LGBTQ+ community, with their dedication to the intersection of mental health and social involvement, where the role of the therapist doesn't just exist in the therapeutic space, but extends into advocacy for civil rights and support for minorities. Rather than promoting a binary choice of religious or secularism, we discuss the need for resources that support individuals who choose to remain within religious and/or spiritual communities while avoiding harmful ideologies. SC Nealy, LPC (they/she) is a therapist and owner of an all queer and trans-identifying therapy practice in Washington, DC that focuses on bringing therapists with lived experiences to the LGBT+ population. They specialize in religious trauma work and their first non-fiction book, Healing Sacred Wounds, will be published by Bloomsbury in Fall 2026. Visit lgbtcounselingdmv.com for more information, or follow SC Nealy online at @scnealy on Instagram and @booksbysarahrobinson on…

People in this episode

Guest: SC Nealy

Topics covered

• spirituality
• mental health
• LGBTQ+
• advocacy
• religious trauma

Keywords

• trauma
• community involvement
• civil rights
• therapist
• religious ideologies

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Healing Sacred Wounds

Books & works: Navigating Spirituality Without Harm, Healing Sacred Wounds

Places: Washington, DC

More episodes of Humanity's Values

• 52: Exploring Identity in the Spirit of Halloween · October 30, 2025 · 46 min
• 51: Connecting Secular Minds: The Importance of Community · September 3, 2025 · 1h 27m
• 50: Interview with Everett Uhl · August 13, 2025 · 54 min
• 49: Interview with Dr. Kristen Hornung · July 7, 2025 · 1h 10m
• 48: Interview with Steve Ghikadis · June 8, 2025 · 50 min
• 47: Interview with Rafa Zuniga · June 1, 2025 · 53 min