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STARRY to offer support for families struggling with divorce

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By Community Impact Newspaper Staff Thursday, 30 July 2009

With the help of a grant from Chaparral Women’s Club, STARRY will offer families in Williamson County a place to turn when they face the struggles associated with divorce.

Beginning in September, the not-for-profit organization affiliated with Round Rock-based Children at Heart Ministries will offer DivorceCare, a national curriculum usually offered through churches, as part of its counseling program.

“Ultimately, we want people to walk away with hope after being part of DivorceCare,” said STARRY Counseling Program Supervisor Richard Singleton. “So many going through divorce are ashamed or afraid. Once they come through this program, they will be able to let go of the past and move forward without the burden of what was.”

The 13-week program covers topics such as facing anger, financial survival and forgiveness. Though DivorceCare is primarily geared toward couples that have experienced a marital breakup, Singleton said it can also benefit those still dealing with frustrations from their parents’ divorce.

“If something is happening to parents, it’s happening to the children,” he said. “It just so happens that children, at the time, don’t have the processing skills to understand or deal with the event as it’s happening. Those feelings can affect them in many ways as adults.”

And since many issues faced by youth and adults stem from a divorce situation, either in the past or currently, Singleton said DivorceCare also includes a component for school-age children up to 12 years old.

“We want kids to know that they are not alone,” said Jessica Larson, STARRY Youth Services Specialist in charge of DC4K. “A lot of children feel like [the divorce] is their fault. We help them learn to cope with those feelings and understand that’s just not true.”

For more information on DivorceCare contact the STARRY Counseling Program at 388-8290, email Larson at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit starryonline.org.