INSIDE THE STAR PROCESS

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Addictions and Recovery
Attachment Disorder and Relationship Problems

Anger Management

Attacking Anxiety and Depression
Grief Recovery
Childhood Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress
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Recommended Reading

STAR is a rich tapestry of some of the most effective psychospiritual and transpersonal processes available today, woven together by pioneering therapist Barbara Findeisen.

teaching.jpg (18480 bytes)Firmly grounded in sound developmental models, professional psychological approaches, and proven therapeutic disciplines, STAR is a powerful adjunct to traditional therapy, a balanced approach addressing the whole person – body, mind, soul, and spirit.

Integrating the best of mainstream psychotherapy with the holistic approaches found in transpersonal therapy, the STAR process itself is eclectic and, although occurring in a group context, highly individualized.

STAR uses both cognitive and experiential methods, involving physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of the human experience. It accesses and utilizes both conscious and unconscious avenues to self-knowledge and self-healing.

Some of the processes and therapies incorporated into the STAR program include:

  • Art therapy
  • Birth regression (Findeisen)
  • Emotional release work
  • Family sculpts (Satir)
  • Group processing
  • Guided imagery
  • Breathwork (Grof)
  • Journaling (Progoff)
  • Lectures and cognitive exercises
  • Psychodrama
  • Writing assignments

The first half of the STAR experience is the uncovering process, where all of the processes used are meant to help the participant go backwards in time to uncover early sources of emotional wounding in his/her past.

The rebuilding process – the second half of STAR – could be called repatterning, or growing up. Experiences are offered which are designed to help the participants create a new blueprint – based on their discoveries and understandings gained in the uncovering process – of the kind of life they want, free of the factors which led to the symptoms which preceded their participation in STAR.

Who Should Attend STAR?

STAR is especially appropriate for clients in a transition or life crisis, who are feeling stuck, for those in recovery (especially for those dealing with "second-stage" recovery), or for those desiring to move more deeply into understanding the root causes of their addictive behavior or destructive patterns. Many who come and benefit from STAR are feeling a sense of emptiness, loss of perspective, or seeking a greater understanding and appreciation of themselves. STAR is also very helpful for those who feel they have no sense of meaning or purpose in their lives. Parents often come to STAR seeking better relationships with their children, and vice versa. Some come to STAR who are under professional care and being treated with medications; generally this is no obstacle to full participation in STAR.

STAR will not accept applications from individuals who are unable to take care of themselves physically, or are a danger to themselves, or are actively abusing drugs or alcohol. Nor do we accept clients who have a severe psychiatric diagnosis such as schizophrenia or MPD. STAR does not provide a hospital setting; there are no locked units, and we do not prescribe or dispense medications.

If you have any questions about the appropriateness of STAR for your clients, please call us at 1-888-857-7827.

NEXT: Why Therapists Choose STAR


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Geyserville, CA 95441
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E-mail: starfoundation@pobox.com