About STAR

Seminars on Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) began as a response to the events of September 11th and has now equipped more than 5,000 leaders from 62 countries with tools to address a range of situations that are caused or influenced by traumatic events.

Multidisclipinary Approach to Trauma Healing

STAR combines the latest in trauma research, personal self-care and innovative strategies for ending the cycles of victimhood and violence within our local, national and global communities. Participants have found that STAR equips them with tools to address a range of situations that are caused or influenced by traumatic events.

Framework:

The STAR framework draws on the fields of neurobiology, psychology, restorative justice, conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and spirituality.

STAR expands practices related to trauma, justice, peacebuilding, spirituality and security and shows the importance of integrating these concepts on personal, community and societal levels.

• “Trauma” is often seen as a phenomenon affecting individuals, and much of the trauma-healing work has been limited to the individual level. STAR relates body and spirit to trauma healing and demonstrates that it needs to be addressed in groups and larger communities.
• “Justice” is usually associated with legal systems. STAR presents principles of restorative justice that require the involvement of individuals and communities.
• “Peacebuilding,” has in practice been most often used at the community-level. STAR presents peacebuilding at the individual, community and state levels and integrates the importance of breaking cycles of victim-hood and violence.
• “Spirituality” is usually disconnected from trauma healing. STAR identifies spirituality as a key component in healing trauma at all levels.
• “Security” is commonly seen as national security and the duty of governments to protect their citizens. STAR pushes beyond national security to look at global security including economic and human security.

STAR activities honor multi-faith participation and the important interaction of those from diverse backgrounds in the US and around the world.

Increasing Capacity and Tools:

The STAR training strengthens the capacity and resilience of individuals and groups who work with traumatized individuals, groups, or societies. Over 3,000 participants have come from the U.S. and many international settings.

Examples of attendees who have found the training helpful are:

• Many clergy, civil and religious leaders after 9/11
• Youth workers in the devastated Gulf Region post-Katrina
• Psychotherapists
• Disaster and relief workers world-wide
• Leaders in post-war settings
• Persons supporting returning military veterans
• Social workers
• Nurses
• Mediators
• Teachers
• Lawyers
• Retirees
• Students