STAR
After serving in Iraq with the U.S. Army National Guard, Mark Lauro benefited from seeking assistance in healing from residual trauma.
“What STAR offered that we didn’t receive from the military was an explanation of the trauma process. It helped me to understand the technical side of trauma, to understand its actual dynamics, and how these can affect the different parts of the brain.” – Sgt. Mark Lauro invited Lauro to a STAR training, and in 2011, he went, intending concepts. It was science.” to do nothing more than provide her with feedback from a vetPrestwood-Taylor says STAR is unique in integrating a physieran’s perspective. To his surprise, the experience became intensely ological understanding of trauma with a broader view of its personal. He talked about the night he met the ambulance, and impact on one’s spiritual and social health. in doing so, explored the grief and remorse he’d held ever since. “When most programs look at post-traumatic stress disorder, “I felt free of that burden I’d been carrying.” Lauro says STAR they deal with body-brain dysfunction and try to help the veteran has brought considerable healing to his life, though he still deals manage that,” says Prestwood-Taylor. “But there are other aspects occasionally with the effects of his experiences in combat. of healing that are crucial to finding wholeness.” In November 2012, Lauro returned to STAR as a speaker at a She also notes that the majority of veterans who commit Journey Home From War workshop led by Prestwood-Taylor on suicide today have been home for years (69% are over 50 years EMU’s campus. old, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs), meaning “What STAR offered that we didn’t receive from the miliprograms like Journey Home from War need to take a long view. tary was an explanation of the trauma process. It helped me “The need for the community to reach out to veterans and to understand the technical side of trauma, to understand its provide support isn’t a short-term need,” Prestwood-Taylor says. actual dynamics, and how these can affect the different parts of “My hope is that there will be something sustainable for 10 years the brain,” says Lauro, who works in human resources for the from now, 20 years from now, when it is needed just as much as it Virginia Department of Transportation. “It wasn’t just theory and is today.” — Andrew Jenner PHOTO by Jon Styer
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