Cisgender mental health professionals’ experiences providing services to sex workers identifying as transgender or gender non-conforming were explored in this research study. Providing nonbiased and culturally appropriate care is an ethical obligation of mental health professionals, including providing culturally competent care to the minority subpopulation of transgender and gender non-conforming sex workers. The main research question was “How do cisgender mental health professionals make meaning to experiences in providing services to transgender and gender non-conforming sex workers in the U.S.?” There was no current research on cisgender mental health workers’ experiences with providing services to transgender or gender non-conforming sex workers in the U.S. Providing non-biased and culturally appropriate care is an ethical obligation of counselors, including to this minority population. In this qualitative study, the researchers used semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling to understand the experiences of mental health professionals who have worked with the population. Cisgender mental health professionals providing services to transgender sex workers experience radical shifts in perspective and worldview. Work with the population often results in challenges because of a lack of resources, including counselors lacking specific training, education, or competent supervision. Providing training, education, and supervision surrounding the use of culturally specific language, building and maintaining rapport, practicing openness and affirming behavior, and increasing knowledge of resources, cisgender mental health professionals providing services to the population will have more support and awareness.
Trigger Warning: This presentation contains information (written, spoken, or visual) that may be triggering or (re)traumatizing to attendees.
Dr. Rachel Johnson has worked in the field of mental health and addiction for over 12 years and has worked directly with survivors of human trafficking in clinical settings, focusing her research on human trafficking, including clinical needs and effective strategies while working with the population.
Maryann O’Malloy has worked in the field of behavioral health for over 30 years. She has experience working directly with survivors of human trafficking and sex workers in clinical settings. She also developed a curriculum for working with survivors of human trafficking that addressed specific needs.