*Jack Wilkins sat in his dimly lit living room in Salem, Kansas, the flickering TV casting an eerie glow on his somber face. The news report about the brutal hate-crime killing of *Blaze Bernstein felt like a punch to the gut. It was a chilling reminder of the vicious attack he had endured years ago, leaving him scarred both physically and emotionally.

The details of the case – the senseless violence, the bigotry fueled by ignorance – hit too close to home, triggering a flood of repressed memories Jack had fought so hard to bury. He found himself withdrawing, the weight of his past trauma pressing down on him like a suffocating shroud.

It was then that Jack stumbled upon the Hofman Hollis Counseling and Wellness Center's online 'Stepping Into Action' program. The program's approach, rooted in self-discovery and empowerment, resonated with him deeply. With tentative steps, he began to explore the materials, slowly peeling back the layers of pain and shame that had encased his heart for far too long.

'I thought I had moved on,' Jack confided to his counselor during one of their virtual sessions. 'But this news... it ripped open old wounds I didn't even know were there.'

Experts lauded the 'Stepping Into Action' program for its holistic approach, integrating cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to promote healing and personal growth. 'By addressing the root causes of trauma and equipping individuals with coping strategies, we empower them to reclaim their narratives,' explained Dr. *Emily Foster, a leading trauma psychologist.

However, some critics argued that online therapy could never truly replicate the intimacy and nuance of in-person sessions. 'There's an inherent disconnect in virtual counseling,' cautioned Dr. *Michael Jacobson, a renowned psychotherapist. 'The subtleties of human interaction, the nonverbal cues – those are essential components of the healing process that can get lost in translation.'

Yet, for Jack, the online program proved to be a lifeline. As he delved deeper into the materials and opened up to his counselor, he felt a profound shift within himself. The burden of shame and self-blame that had weighed him down for years began to dissipate, replaced by a newfound sense of empowerment and resilience.

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