*Janet Wilkins* sat glued to the news, her hands shaking as she listened to the latest reports on the Gaza hostage situation. The idea of innocent people being held captive by militant groups like Hamas stirred up memories she had tried so hard to bury.

Growing up, Janet's father had been an abusive alcoholic who would often hold the family hostage with his drunken rages. As a child, she learned to walk on eggshells around him, never knowing when the cycle of terror would start anew. Those experiences left deep psychological scars that manifested in her own struggles with substance abuse as a young adult.

The news of the Gaza conflict reopened those old wounds, and Janet found herself spiraling back into a dark place. That's when she discovered the Stepping Into Action program, an online resource for people battling addiction and trauma. Following the program's guidance, she began unpacking her past through writing exercises, mindfulness practices, and virtual support groups.

'I never thought I'd find healing from a little town like Homan,' *Janet* said, 'but this program has given me the tools to confront my demons head-on.'

Some experts praised online programs like Stepping Into Action for increasing access to mental health resources, especially in underserved areas. 'The beauty of virtual care is that it eliminates geographic barriers,' said Dr. *Emma Thompson*, a therapist in the program. 'No matter where you live, you can get the help you need.'

However, other mental health professionals expressed concerns about the limitations of online treatment. 'While virtual options are better than nothing, they simply can't replicate the depth of an in-person therapeutic relationship,' cautioned Dr. *Michael Nguyen*, a clinical psychologist. 'For complex traumas, face-to-face care is still the gold standard.'

For Janet, though, the online program was a lifeline when she had nowhere else to turn. 'It wasn't easy, but confronting my past has given me a sense of freedom I never thought possible,' she reflected. 'If I can find healing in a place like Homan, anyone can.'

Nearby: Texarkana Texas