Welcome to LifeSTAR
— Dr. John Thorington
LifeSTAR Program
The LifeSTAR program is a three-phase treatment program to help individuals who struggle with pornography addiction and unwanted sexually compulsive behaviors. Each phase builds on the previous one for a long-term and comprehensive approach to eliminating compulsive behaviors.
The LifeSTAR program is a nationally recognized treatment program that is run by licensed therapists who are trained in sexual addiction recovery. Participants receive workbooks and other materials to help them in their recovery work. The phases are designed to gently uncover and heal those patterns that create and maintain addictive patterns.
One unique feature of the LifeSTAR program is that the education and tools are available for partners and spouses of addicts. Couples are encouraged to come together, however, single adults and those who are married but would rather come alone are also welcome to attend.
The program provides participants with a combination of group therapy, education, tools and resources to help them overcome unwanted sexually compulsive behaviors. Partners receive strong support and guidance as to how they can best navigate their lives as they live with someone struggling with an addiction.
The Three Phases
The LifeSTAR programs are broken down into three phases of recovery and healing:
Phase I: Getting Started is a six-week educational course for people struggling with sexual addiction and for their partners. This exciting new course provides participants with a better understanding about sexual addiction and the underlying issues, and teaches both partners and addicts how to begin the journey of recovery. The primary focus of the Getting Started Workshop is to educate. We have found that when clients are well-informed about the underlying issues that influence unhealthy behaviors, they become empowered to take a more proactive approach to life and recovery.
Cost for the LifeSTAR Phase I “Getting Started Workshop” is $360 per person ($720) for a couple. Price includes 4 workbooks, 3 booklets, and 18 hours of education. The next Phase 1 will begin in February, 2009. Please contact Dr. John Thorington at 752-7557 if you would like to register.
Phase II: Recovery Group is intended to help clients develop solid sobriety and employ successful strategies that will help them live healthier, more productive lives. The workbooks in Phase II focus on providing a deeper look at denial, the addiction cycle, fantasies and objectification, relapse prevention, and healthy living. Participants should stay in Phase II until they have established a solid sobriety, are implementing an effective treatment plan-including a network of support-and have a detailed understanding of their addictive system. Partners in Phase II take a deep look at their own issues, and learn to recognize co-dependent behaviors and establish healthy boundaries.
Cost for Phase II “Recovery Group” is $180 per month per person. Price includes 4 additional workbooks and 6 hours of group therapy per month.
Phase III: Advanced Group is a long-term commitment to group therapy and is geared toward helping participants maintain their new-found healthy lifestyles. Phase III addresses issues that underlined the addiction in the first place, such as faulty core beliefs, trauma, and abuse. Once the addiction has been stopped and the underlying issues have been addressed, healthy lifestyle changes are reinforced in order to keep the addiction from reappearing. For couples in the program, this is the time to practice their new lifestyle and new way of relating to each other. In Phase III, they put into practice all of the identity and boundary training they have received throughout the first two phases.
Cost for Phase III “Advanced Group” is $180 per month per person. Price includes materials and 6 hours of group therapy per month.