No More Night: A Novel Trauma-Informed Approach to Engaging Sexually Exploited Youth in Treatment
Marissa Marie Gray, MSEd, LPC | September 25 | 10:00-11:00 AM
Topic: Programming | Knowledge Level: Intermediate
It is known that youth with a history of trauma, particularly sexual trauma, are at a heightened risk to experience sexual exploitation (Cecchet & Thoburn, 2014). While there exist therapeutic modalities for engaging sexually exploited youth, there is a paucity of clinically-specific, lived-experience-informed approaches in literature (Peters, 2015). Thus, this program, known as No More Night, incorporates evidenced-based approaches to working with complex trauma survivors from the unique vantage point of a lived experience expert. Namely, No More Night, offers trauma-informed treatment interventions, such as play therapy, along with other interactive approaches to engage survivors. Congruently, survivors are engaged in community supports, such as receiving new clothing, learning basic independent living skills, and even engaging in enjoyable childhood activities, such as intramural sports, to galvanize healing and growth at every level of the program. Street outreach as well as targeted advocacy efforts round out No More Night. Rather than a cognitive-behavioral approach, No More Night works from a trauma-informed angle, understanding the manner in which trauma is stored, and healing the brain from the bottom up (Perry & Hambrick, 2008). No More Night also connects survivors to cover up tattoos and makeovers to empower bodily autonomy and a deeper, more solid sense of self (Johnson, 2012). The cornerstone of No More Night is that positive relationship is itself the intervention. Audiences will take away fractions of this model which can henceforth be applied in additional agencies.
Presentation Objectives:
· Discuss some obstacles youth face when engaging with the mental health system
· Describe trauma-informed and holistic interventions to engage youth survivors
· Explore how to engage community resources in walking alongside youth survivors
· Offer a perspective on program development from a survivor now working in the mental health field