How STAR Empowers Participants Through Trauma Therapy

Successfully breaking free from the cycle of addiction can be a daunting and life-long struggle, especially without the tools or resources needed to making a lasting life change. The STAR Drug Court Program strives to equip defendants with the necessary tools to ensure they can maintain sobriety and achieve freedom from their addictive habits. One of the most important resources the STAR Program offers participants is access to trauma therapy to help them in their recovery process.

Trauma therapy is a crucial part of the addiction recovery process because it allows participants to address and acknowledge the hurt, abuse, or trauma they’ve experienced in their lives. A majority of the individuals who become addicts initially turn to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism because they usually have nowhere else to turn, no one to help them escape their difficult situation, or no tools to help them cope with their trauma in a healthy way.

STAR Program defendants learn that properly dealing with their past trauma better equips them to break the cycle of addiction and gives them the opportunity to repair and restore broken relationships torn apart by addiction. STAR Program participants are given the opportunity to receive counseling with trained professionals, and to also take part in group therapy sessions to encourage and support one another on their journey towards sobriety.

Trauma therapy succeeds by allowing those battling addiction to treat the cause and not merely the symptoms of their struggles. Participants learn how to cope with the effects of their past trauma, and are given the tools to make healthier choices when faced with temptation. Participants can learn to not only forgive those who hurt and traumatized them, but also forgive themselves for the choices and pain they’ve caused others.