Working with Victims of Human Trafficking

Psychosocial correlates of mental health work with human trafficking survivors: Risk and resilience.

“…As postulated in previous research (Fargnoli, 2017; Kliner & Stroud, 2012; Pascual-Leone et al, 2017), findings from this study indicate that professionals who work with survivors do indeed experience aversive work-related outcomes, including burnout and STS; however, these experiences range in severity among providers. The level of burnout experienced by the human trafficking-oriented providers within this sample ( M = 21.48, SD = 5.1, range = 12–35) appears comparable to levels of burnout measured among a sample of community mental health providers ( M ’s ranging from 20.2 to 23.6 in Rossi et al, 2012).…”

“…However, delivering such services to survivors of human trafficking can prove difficult for mental health providers for a variety of reasons. In a review of service provision for trafficking survivors, Pascual-Leone et al (2017) indicate that these difficulties may include cultural and language barriers between mental health service providers and survivors; survivors’ frequent lack of fundamental resources, such as shelter, medical care, and financial stability; and a lack of social support—all of which may strain the mental health providers’ resourcefulness and complicate the therapeutic process.…”

“…Similarly, Domoney et al (2015) found that providers working with these individuals experience difficulties with survivors’ frequent lack of engagement (e.g., through lack of attendance, refusal of mental health services) and survivors’ continuous risk of further exploitation and harm throughout the treatment course. Additionally, survivors’ experiences of severe coercion, manipulation, and betrayal often lead to deep feelings of shame, fear, and mistrust, and these feelings are often associated with a diminished capacity to trust, relate, and connect with others (Contreras et al, 2017; Pascual-Leone et al, 2017). This diminished capacity, a frequent outcome of complex trauma, can slow the development of a key ingredient of successful mental health intervention: the therapeutic relationship, and this can be challenging for therapists to overcome (Contreras et al, 2017; Pascual-Leone et al, 2017).…”

“…However, delivering such services to survivors of human trafficking can prove difficult for mental health providers for a variety of reasons. In a review of service provision for trafficking survivors, Pascual-Leone et al (2017) indicate that these difficulties may include cultural and language barriers between mental health service providers and survivors; survivors' frequent lack of fundamental resources, such as shelter, medical care, and financial stability; and a lack of social support-all of which may strain the mental health providers' resourcefulness and complicate the therapeutic process. Kliner and Stroud's (2012) interviews with 12 physical and mental health providers working with sex-trafficking survivors in England revealed many of these challenges, with providers noting experiences of burnout, feeling physically and emotionally drained, experiences of psychosomatic symptoms, the need for developing a wide range of coping strategies, and the need for increased organizational support.…”

“…In addition to difficulties associated with PTSD or CPTSD, survivors of trafficking can also suffer from depression, anxiety, self-injury, suicidal ideation and behavior, and developmental difficulties (Choi et al, 2009; Countryman-Roswurm & Shaffer, 2015; Hopper, 2017; Ottisova et al, 2016; Pascual-Leone et al, 2017; TFTWG, 2014). Survivors often face immensely stressful circumstances related to reintegration with the community, financial and vocational struggles, and difficulties establishing and maintaining supportive interpersonal relationships (TFTWG, 2014).…”