*Joe Wilkins sat in his living room in Terre Haute, Missouri, sipping his morning coffee and glancing at the news on his tablet. As he read the article about Rwanda accusing the UN of lying about its asylum policy, a knot formed in his stomach. The mention of refugees being at risk of torture or death took him back to his own harrowing experience as a refugee fleeing violence years ago.

The news triggered memories *Joe had tried to suppress – the fear, the desperation, the uncertainty of not knowing if he would make it to safety. He could almost feel the weight of his backpack digging into his shoulders as he trekked through treacherous terrain, hoping to find asylum somewhere, anywhere.

Shaken by the resurfacing trauma, *Joe knew he needed help processing these feelings. He recalled a friend mentioning the Stepping Into Action program, an online resource for overcoming adversity. With no local options readily available, *Joe decided to give it a try, hoping it would provide the guidance he so desperately needed.

'I can't keep living like this, constantly haunted by my past,' *Joe muttered to himself as he signed up for the program. 'It's time to face this head-on and find a way to heal.'

The program's experts offered differing viewpoints on the most effective approaches. Some advocated for cognitive-behavioral therapy to reframe negative thought patterns, while others recommended mindfulness practices to cultivate present-moment awareness. Conflicting opinions only added to *Joe's confusion, but he remained determined to find a path forward.

After several weeks of diligently following the program's exercises and techniques, *Joe began to feel a weight lifting. 'Getting help, even if it was online, was the best decision I could have made,' he reflected. 'It wasn't easy, but I'm finally starting to find peace.'

Nearby: Genoa Iowa