It is well known that individuals with complex trauma and especially those with marginalized identities have not received quality mental health care. Many of these reasons stem from budgeting and other systemic challenges of providing therapy in community mental health. However, with individuals connected to commercial sex, clinicians are also missing key cultural and trauma informed pieces. Therapists often even over focus on trauma in commercial sex, often fetishizing the individual, or they feel they cannot go near those experiences and discuss them and avoid them at all costs. This presentation will explore providing therapy as an ally and how to provide quality care. It will explore the benefits of trauma informed therapy, use of EMDR, and particularly Dolores Mosquera’s progressive approach theory to provide healing for individuals connected to commercial sex. She will discuss the challenges of using standard protocol of EMDR with individuals who have been connected to the commercial sex trade. She will explore common themes that occurred when attempting to provide EMDR. She will discuss her protocols that allowed individuals to benefit from therapy and experience relief. She will explore how to provide EMDR to individuals currently in the life without flooding or re-traumatization. She will provide case examples and discuss the benefits seen. Finally, she will explore the importance of culturally attuned care as well as having access to quality and thorough trauma treatment to survivors. She will expand on how providing quality care is a social justice and rights issue for individuals connected to commercial sex.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Rachel Ewing is the Clinical Director for Ready Inspire Act, working with adults connected to commercial sex in Massachusetts. Prior, Rachel managed a program for CSEC youth and served on Sacramento’s interdisciplinary CSEC Court panel. Rachel has worked with complex trauma and individuals connected to commercial sex since 2013.