Invisible Chains: Exploring Survivors of Sex Trafficking Experiences of Trauma Bonding in a Human Trafficking Court in a Midwestern State
Kaitlin Casassa, LISW-S, PhD & Gwen England, MASJ | September 20 | 1:45-2:45 pm
Topic: Research, Legal | Knowledge Level: Beginner
Trauma bonds are one of the most pressing issues facing survivors of sex trafficking, but they are one of the least understood. More insight is needed into survivors’ experiences with trauma bonding. Furthermore, little research has examined survivors’ experiences in human trafficking specialty dockets. Trauma bonds likely affect survivors in these courts, but no research has sought to explore how these survivors experience these bonds. This phenomenological, community-based participatory research study with CATCH court, a human trafficking specialty docket, sought to fill these research gaps by seeking to understand how survivors have experienced trauma bonding, how they have experienced healing from trauma bonding, and how their participation in a human trafficking specialty docket has affected their healing from trauma bonding. This study consisted of focus groups and individual interviews with 19 survivors of sex trafficking who were current participants in or graduates of CATCH court. Study findings indicate survivors have experienced trauma bonds as involuntary, as having lingering power, and as consisting of love and hate. Survivors shared that building trusting and honest relationships, their relationships with themselves, and education all played a role in their healing. Survivors shared that love and support from specialty docket staff helped them overcome trauma bonding effects. Finally, survivors expressed that how trauma bonding affects a survivor in the court ultimately depends on the individual. Study findings contain important implications for practice with survivors, for policy, and for future research.
Presentation Objectives:
· Explain what trauma bonds are and how to recognize them among survivors of sex trafficking
· Provide an overview of the research study, including main questions, methodology, and findings
· Describe the implications and recommendations based on the research