Spirit of Story PRESENTS
Darls Centola
in conversation with
Karin Gutman
Join us for an intimate conversation with debut author and trauma psychotherapist Darls Centola, LCSW, whose memoir Finding Truth with Michael takes us deep into her teenage friendship with Michael Jackson and the hidden world of growing up as Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Through the story, Darls investigates her experience of religious trauma and spiritual abuse, revealing how memoir can transcend story to offer a timely look at purity culture, indoctrination, and the inner workings of unconscious beliefs.
Join us for this live conversation
Tuesday, February 24
10-11am PT | 1-2pm ET
Sign up with your email address to register for this free, virtual event.
About the Guest:
Darls Centola, LCSW, is a Los Angeles-based trauma therapist, author, and educator with over 25 years of experience navigating the psychological impact of high-control religion, spiritual abuse, and adverse religious experiences (AREs).
A former Jehovah’s Witness who walked away to reclaim her autonomy, she brings both lived experience and clinical expertise to her work—specializing in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and trauma-informed care.
Her debut memoir, Finding Truth with Michael, blends personal narrative with cultural insight, chronicling Darls’ coming-of-age inside a restrictive belief system as a Jehovah’s Witness.
And documents her tender friendship with Michael Jackson, forged during high school, where they spent time together and studied as teenage Witnesses.
About the Host:
Karin Gutman, MFA, is a memoir and story coach who has been guiding writers for 20+ years towards discovering and writing their life-based stories. The safe, dynamic spaces she creates allow for this deeply personal work to unfold, as writers peel away the layers and make meaning out of their life experiences.
She has taught at California State University, Fullerton, the Writers’ Program at UCLA, and the San Miguel Writers' Conference, and currently offers workshops, retreats and 1:1 coaching under her Spirit of Story banner.
