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The SAGE Trauma & Recovery Center, or STAR
Center, has been designed to meet the specific needs of a
population for whom mental and physical violence is a common
occurrence. The program combines two complementary but distinct
health and education-oriented service models:
- Day Treatment (abstinence), and
- Harm Reduction (risk reduction)
Together, this continuum of services is designed
to begin meeting the complex and severe needs of prostitutes
and sex workers who may suffer from addiction and Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) resulting from mental and physical trauma.
SAGE offers separate programs for men and women, given the gender-related
nature of the trauma suffered by women in prostitution. SAGE
offers "Survival Skills for Men" and provides referrals
to other services and agencies.
Women and girls have very different treatment issues, and early
recovery work for trauma, abuse and sexual exploitation is more
effective when offered in a same-gender atmosphere.
The STAR Center Harm Reduction program
works from a philosophy of encouraging whatever small or large
steps clients take towards healing, regardless of whether they
exit the sex trade. SAGE conducted interviews with prostitutes
and sex workers, and found that an overwhelming number of sex
workers want a safe place to learn about reducing risks such
as Hepatitis, HIV and physical and emotional violence.
The Harm Reduction program allows participants to work with
peer counselors to begin the healing process that may lead the
participant away from addiction and prostitution.
The STAR Center's 26-week Day Treatment program
approaches trauma from several vantage points. The curriculum
may include:
- Peer counseling
- Life Skills for Girls
- Medical screening and referrals
- Hepatitis C screening and referrals
- Psychological and mental health counseling
- Counseling for recovery from childhood
trauma
- Rape and sexual abuse counseling
- Substance abuse counseling
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
(EMDR)
- Movement and Art Therapy
- Self-defense training
- Career and vocational planning
- Life Survival Skills training
- Acupuncture and homeopathic remedies
- Massage therapy and yoga
Combined, these approaches provide a powerful
remedy to help ameliorate the effects of trauma resulting from
prostitution and addiction.
Are you
thinking about becoming a SAGE client? Read this FAQ
For more information about SAGE programs and services, use the
links above, or contact us at SAGE.
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