Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: Trauma-Focused Treatment Strategies
The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) represents a particular challenge for mental health professionals across multiple services settings. Commercially Sexually Exploited clients often have complex mental health needs and are at high risk for a broad range of adverse consequences and negative mental health outcomes. Specifically, clients often have long histories of multiple traumatic experiences and high rates of PTSD, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, and substance use problems. Furthermore, they often present with significant engagement and retention challenges that can impede the progress of therapy. In this workshop, presenters will describe Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and applications of this treatment with clients who have been commercially Sexually Exploited. The rationale for the use of TF-CBT with CSEC will be described, strategies for enhancing engagement with CSEC clients will be identified, and CSEC-specific applications of TF-CBT PRACTICE components will be described. Presenters will also describe Project Intersect, a SAMHSA-funded project of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the strategies and applications of TF-CBT that have been utilized through this service grant. Therapist feedback, CSEC client reports of their experiences in TF-CBT treatment, and outcome data collected through the Project Intersect program evaluation, will be shared with workshop attendees to further reflect the benefits and challenges of the provision of trauma-focused treatment with CSEC-identified clients.
Outline/Structure of the Workshop
In this workshop, presenters will describe Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and applications of this treatment with clients who have been commercially Sexually Exploited. The rationale for the use of TF-CBT with CSEC will be described, strategies for enhancing engagement with CSEC clients will be identified, and CSEC-specific applications of TF-CBT PRACTICE components will be described. Presenters will also describe Project Intersect, a SAMHSA-funded project of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and the strategies and applications of TF-CBT that have been utilized through this service grant. Therapist feedback, CSEC client reports of their experiences in TF-CBT treatment, and outcome data collected through the Project Intersect program evaluation, will be shared with workshop attendees to further reflect the benefits and challenges of the provision of trauma-focused treatment with CSEC-identified clients.
Learning Outcome
After the workshop participants will be able to:
- Define Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and provide examples of CSEC.
- Identify key considerations for delivering Trauma-focused treatment with CSEC clients, common challenges and barriers to treatment, and strategies for overcoming barriers.
- Describe CSEC-specific applications of trauma-focused treatment components.
Target Audience
Therapists with knowledge and training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and other helping professionals who advocate for services for this complex population.
schedule Submitted 7 years ago
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