Join Dr. Shobana Powell and Cristian Eduardo in an exploration of the dynamics of psychological coercion in sex trafficking. They will present on how research on Biderman's Framework and cultic theory demonstrate the shared psychological coercion tactics used in sex trafficking, torture, and cults. The presenters will also discuss the practical applications for working with survivors. This workshop is beneficial to all who work in the anti-trafficking field, as psychological coercion can be one of the most common forms of control and yet one of the most difficult to identify, name, and heal from. The presenters will go beyond the basics of human trafficking, delving into the subtle manipulation tactics utilized by exploiters and providing culturally relevant case examples. The goal of this workshop is to 1) validate and normalize survivors’ experiences of psychological coercion, 2) empower mental health, law enforcement, legal, and other service providers with shared language around psychological coercion, and 3) replace movement-wide minimizing of the harms of psychological coercion with believing and supporting survivors.

 

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Identify shared coercion tactics in sex trafficking and torture

•  Identify shared coercion tactics in sex trafficking and cults

•  Learn tips for working with survivors who have experienced coercive control

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Working in the field of trauma can be emotionally and mentally taxing for direct service providers. In order to be empathetic and ethical practitioners, it is crucial for professionals to prioritize their own self-care in order to effectively support survivors. With over two decades of experience in anti-trafficking and social justice work between the two of them, Brianne and Nora have seen how critical self-care is for providers in the field. Direct service providers often experience high levels of stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout due to the emotional and physical demands of their work. Throughout this presentation, the importance of self-compassion and self-awareness are emphasized as essential components of self-care. Various forms of self-care practices will be explored during this presentation; including mindfulness, breathing exercises, and self-reflection tools to better understand one’s own thought process and triggers. Trauma informed yoga combines movement, breath, and mindfulness to help providers release tension and build resilience. Overall, this presentation provides practical tools and strategies for direct service providers to cultivate self-care habits, enhance their reflective practices, and address inner conflict in a trauma-informed manner. By prioritizing their own well-being, service providers can continue to effectively support those they work with from a place of compassion and abundance. In conclusion, it is essential for direct service providers to prioritize self-care in order to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. By incorporating regular self-care practices into their routines, providers better support others and continue doing the work they are passionate about.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Increase awareness and understanding of self-care practices among direct service providers, including educating direct service providers on the importance of self-care practices in preventing burnout and compassion fatigue

•  Explore the benefits and strategies of incorporating trauma-informed yoga as a self-care tool for both direct service providers and survivors, with a focus on promoting healing and empowerment through mind-body connection

•  Empower direct service providers with practical strategies and resources for self-care that they can integrate into their daily routines in order to maintain their well-being, decrease stress, and continue serving survivors with compassion and effectiveness

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Approximately 90 million migrants are living and working outside their home countries, many seeking security and sustainable livelihoods. These migrants often take on "3D jobs" characterized by low wages, little security, and hazardous conditions. Forced labor affects millions globally, with 49.6 million individuals trapped in modern slavery in 2021, including 27.6 million enduring forced labor. Of these, 17.3 million suffer exploitation in the private sector, and 3.9 million are victims of state-sanctioned forced labor. Shockingly, 6 million women and girls, along with 12% of children, are subjected to forced labor. Addressing decent work deficiencies in the informal economy is vital in combating this issue. This study aims to evaluate safeguarding strategies for individuals affected by forced labor exploitation-related human trafficking and child trafficking along the Mediterranean migration route, aligning with sustainable development goals. Semi-structured and qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with experts from Italy and Turkey. A total of 46 participants, including 15 from Italy and 31 from Turkey, were involved. Grounded theory guided data analysis using MAXQDA 2020 Pro Analytics software, revealing 2,942 codes, 17 sub-themes, and 4 main themes. These themes covered victim profiles, available services, challenges in service provision, and proposals for an effective protection system. The conclusion and discussion section compared results within the Council of Europe Convention framework, allowing for a comparative analysis between Italy and Turkey. Recommendations were made to address identified gaps in combating forced labor exploitation.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss protective measures for those impacted by forced labor exploitation, specifically human and child trafficking along the Mediterranean migration route

•  Describe how to seek alignment with sustainable development goals to ensure effective safeguarding strategies

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This presentation will examine familial exploitation from a family-system perspective.  Take a deep dive into the behavioral indicators, family dynamics, and offender characteristics that contribute to family-controlled exploitation. Exploitation of this kind involves family members selling their minor children for money, drugs, or something else of value (e.g., access, prestige, or recreation) and typically includes manufacturing of child sex abuse material. Families who exploit their children commercially often have adversities, dysfunctions, and disorders that create a household dynamic of coercion and secrecy, making identification and intervention extremely difficult. These children often attend school, church, and other community functions, but go unnoticed as needing assistance. Exploitation of this kind causes severe psychological trauma, negatively impacting the individual throughout their lifespan. While identification is difficult, it is not impossible. Join this session for a closer look at familial exploitation, examine key identifiers, and discuss intervention strategies throughout the lifespan.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a thorough understanding of familial trafficking, including dysfunctional household dynamics

•  Identify key behavioral indicators of the family system and victim/survivor

•  Explore survivor-informed intervention strategies across the lifespan

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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.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Increase knowledge regarding therapy provided to commercial sex trade survivors

•  Explore how EMDR can support healing for commercial sex trade survivors

•  Support attendees to identify how they can increase their clinical support of individuals in commercial sex through their organizations

•  Identify how providing quality care to individuals connected to commercial sex is a social justice issue

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Effective partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve are a key component in effectively identifying and assisting victims of human trafficking and investigating and prosecuting traffickers. Agencies that focus on the three principles of community policing – partnerships, problem solving, and organizational change - have seen success in building trust and strengthening relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve; including populations that may be particularly vulnerable to trafficking. This session will focus on promising practices in community policing approaches to human trafficking with the goal to explore how the law enforcement response to human trafficking might be strengthened throughout the field. Panelists will also discuss available resources and technical assistance available to the field.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Identify promising practices for combatting human trafficking

•  Provide collaborative strategies for engaging with services providers and survivors

•  Identify investigative strategies using community policing approaches

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Coercive control is a cornerstone of sex trafficking. It entraps survivors in the vicious cycle of abuse and keeps them under the trafficker’s power - even though the door is “wide open” for them to leave. Understanding coercive control and its deep impacts on survivors is key to understanding the nuances of sex trafficking and supporting survivors in a transformative way. Using an intersectional feminist approach that is trauma-informed and survivor-centric, Marissa will explore coercive control in the context of sex trafficking. This knowledge is a feature of Aura Freedom's award-winning human trafficking prevention work and their ground-breaking online Human Trafficking Info Hub. Through various examples, Marissa will examine the many forms that coercive control takes, as well as the different control tactics used by traffickers and how they affect survivors when accessing services. Pulling from her own experience supporting survivors, as well as from Aura Freedom’s survivor-informed curricula, Marissa will share how to provide trauma-informed survivor support that acknowledges, considers, and understands coercive control. She will examine the criminalization of survivors as a form of coercive control, and stress the importance of employing the UN Non-Punishment Principle in the anti-trafficking movement. Attendees will gain frontline strategies and grassroots community knowledge to inform their work, support survivors in a good way, and ultimately prevent human trafficking. Most importantly, attendees will learn how to flip the script from “Why don’t they just leave?” to truly understanding coercive control.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide insight into the complexities and nuances of sex trafficking by exploring coercive control and its intense effects on survivors

•  Present frontline survivor support strategies for successful human trafficking prevention rooted in human rights, intersectional feminism, equity, and empowerment

•  Highlight transformative, trauma-informed service provision to prevent re-exploitation and disrupt cycles of intergenerational trafficking

•  Examine the criminalization of sex trafficking survivors as a form of Coercive Control, and the importance of the UN Non-Punishment Principle in the anti-trafficking movement

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Deaf individuals are at a higher risk of maltreatment and trafficking than the general population due to systemic vulnerabilities. Specifically, without culturally responsive and linguistically accessible services, Deaf clients (both adults and children) may struggle with reporting maltreatment and receiving services for trauma after experiencing maltreatment. There is an increased risk of commercial sexual exploitation of children and adults who have been maltreated, and as estimates show that deaf children have a high risk of abuse, it is likely that deaf children and adults experience CSEC at a high rate due to systemic issues. This training will discuss the needs of Deaf populations related to trafficking service provision and collaboration with interpreters, Deaf serving agencies, and other supports. Attendees will learn about Deaf community considerations in terms of risk and protective factors in anti-trafficking; cultural and linguistic accessibility; and specialized needs for safe houses, case management, and other types of service provision, including how to work with Deaf led organizations, interpreters, and consultants.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Explain how to reduce risk and safety issues with Deaf youth and adult clients as providers in anti-trafficking

•  Discuss how to engage with Deaf survivors from an empowerment framework and resources for support

•  Discuss how to find resources for accommodations and cultural competency building

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Human trafficking has a complex relationship with artificial intelligence (AI). AI serves as both a powerful ally and potential adversary in the battle against modern-day slavery, with our prioritization of humanity determining the victor. While acting as Project Manager for a human trafficking abolition organization, Property Manager for the Anchorage, Alaska Emergency Women’s Shelter, and Criminal Justice Technician in the Sex Offender Registry for the Alaska Department of Safety, Sabrina faced sex traffickers preying on the vulnerable and learned how they run their businesses. The presenter will critically examine the darker side of AI and ethical considerations in the development and implementation of AI tools, with a call to prioritize human rights and privacy. While AI holds immense promise for bolstering anti-trafficking efforts, it simultaneously poses risks and ethical concerns that demand vigilant consideration. Highlighting the positive aspects, the presentation explores how AI technologies can enhance the identification, prevention, and intervention strategies employed by human trafficking advocates. From predictive analytics to data-driven awareness campaigns, the potential for AI to revolutionize the field is underscored. In conclusion, the presentation offers recommendations for a balanced approach, urging the integration of ethical guidelines into AI initiatives. It calls upon the audience to actively participate in shaping AI policies that prioritize the welfare of vulnerable populations. The talk serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of AI and the fight against human trafficking, urging a collective commitment to responsible and human-centric AI practices.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a comprehensive exploration of the dual role played by artificial intelligence in the context of human trafficking

•  Highlight specific instances and applications where AI has positively impacted anti-trafficking efforts, showcasing how AI tools can be leveraged for identification, prevention, and intervention strategies

•  Actively engage the audience in a discussion about the ethical implications of using AI in anti-trafficking initiatives

•  Offer recommendations for a balanced and ethical approach to utilizing AI in the fight against human trafficking

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The dearth of available information on early onset commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) is a serious knowledge gap. This study sought to identify common patterns and variations in the life histories of adults who experienced CSE prior to the age 11. A community-based participatory research approach was used to conduct interviews at two and three timepoints with 10 adults whose CSE began below age 11. Most participants (n = 8) identified as cis women (Mage = 38). The average age of CSE onset was 4.78 years. Primary traffickers were biological family, step/adoptive caregivers, daycare provider, and a neighbor. Reflective thematic analysis was used to identify six themes: (1) Stolen identities and isolated childhoods; (2) Hidden lives amid severe, chronic abuse; (3) Indifferent to bad to worse family dynamics; (4) Structural oppression: Churches, cults, and patriarchy; (5) Surviving complex trauma; and (6) In the pursuit of justice. Surviving chaotic and unpredictable childhoods that included caregivers’ severe mental illness and chronic abuse resulted in a range of cognitive, somatic, and behavioral responses, such as dissociation and self-injurious behaviors. Although participants were not offered services after exiting CSE and traffickers were never prosecuted, they displayed a strong commitment to help prevent and stop future child exploitation. This is the first study to center the experiences of adults initiated into CSE at very young ages and to use a community-engaged approach to do so. Implications for research, policy, and practice will be discussed.

 

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Describe pathways into CSE that were initiated at very young ages by trusted adults

•  Explore differences in CSE pathways and life course development as compared to those initiated into exploitation during adolescence

•  Evaluate gaps in current prevention and intervention strategies in the anti-trafficking field

•  Consider policies and programs that could better support those who experience early onset CSE

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This presentation offers a comprehensive exploration of human trafficking through the lens of an ecosystem perspective, integrating thorough research, poignant case studies, and actionable solutions. By adopting a multi-dimensional approach, it seeks to provide a holistic strategy for combatting this pervasive issue. Central to this strategy is the implementation of a hub and spoke framework, strategically leveraging accurate data to unite diverse stakeholders in a concerted effort toward eradication. Key components of the presentation include a meticulous gap analysis to identify critical areas for intervention, as well as a PESTEL analysis to contextualize the socio-political landscape surrounding human trafficking. Moreover, it outlines a survivor-centered response within the hub and spoke framework, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the needs and experiences of survivors in our collective efforts. The presentation elucidates the essential elements of successful coordination and collaboration among stakeholders, highlighting the significance of partnering and mutual support in achieving meaningful impact. By fostering a culture of collaboration and leveraging resources effectively, we can cultivate a unified front against human trafficking. Ultimately, this presentation advocates for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to tackling human trafficking, grounded in robust research, practical solutions, and a steadfast commitment to collective impact. It serves as a call to action for stakeholders across various sectors to unite in the fight against this grave violation of human rights.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Describe current gaps in the landscape hindering effective survivor identification and support

•  Explain the interconnected nature of areas of responsibility

•  Provide key tools for helping improve collective impact initiatives to serve survivors with excellence

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The presenter met “Jane Doe” when she was a 13-year-old victim of human trafficking. It took almost two years of investigation, interviewing suspects, and collecting evidence until law enforcement arrested 170 men and women including her biological mother. There were over 50,000 pages of social media evidence with thousands of chats, pictures, and videos documenting her abuse. At the center of all this evidence was one little girl who needed to be protected. One of the teams’ biggest concerns was keeping Jane Doe safe and her identity protected. The team used the pseudonym “Jane Doe” in every single filing with the Court. They redacted the evidence to make sure that her privacy was protected and that she was safe before the prosecution began. Once the discovery process began, the presenter filed almost 100 protective orders to keep her identity hidden from the public. This included editing out every piece of information that could be used to identify her. This presentation will help prosecutors, law enforcement, and other allied professionals prepare for a human trafficking case. It will provide tips and ideas on how to prepare voluminous digital evidence for court while protecting your victim. The presenter will discuss the things she learned, what she would do differently, and some of the real difficulties she experienced moving forward. She will also talk about her trauma and how it influenced the case as it went through the criminal justice system.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Describe the types of privileged information that exists and why it should be protected

•  Discuss the type of preparation that goes into an investigation/prosecution of a case this size

•  Discuss and explain what worked, what didn’t, and what was learned in hindsight

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Christian faith-based NGOs (CFBOs) are major players in caring for survivors, but public representation of female survivors can reinforce stigma and feelings of powerlessness among the women they aim to help. Interviews with CFBO representatives revealed perspectives attributing trafficking to cultural factors, parenting, and the Khmer Rouge legacy’s impact on families. However, these portrayals tend to be generalized rather than reflecting survivors’ individual experiences and neglect to address larger systemic inequities. Interviews with trafficking survivors were a sub-group of the Butterfly Longitudinal project. They found CFBO marketing, especially when identifying survivors, led to experiences of dishonor, lost agency over their stories, and increased societal stigma. Recommendations include CFBOs partnering with survivors on ethical representation, targeting messaging to local audiences to mobilize community-level change, and refraining from using rescue and slavery narratives. Faith-based NGOs have an opportunity and a responsibility to restore dignity and power to survivors in how their stories are shared.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Examine current practices in how CFBOs represent trafficking survivors in Cambodia

•  Discuss the impact of CFBO marketing on survivor experiences of stigma and agency

•  Provide recommendations for how faith-based NGOs can ethically portray survivors

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In the decades since global and national measurement has proven elusive, communities have grappled with the challenge of measuring prevalence with imperfect data. Estimates of the scope of the problem continue to vary, with evolving systems perpetually adapting to turnover, funding fluctuations, and societal stereotypes. Understanding statewide and regional contexts beyond prosecution and other system counts have been possible through the Colorado Projects’ 10-year longitudinal community-based participatory research (CBPR). Using theoretical public health frameworks, this session focuses upon the key findings from the Colorado Projects to provide contextualized knowledge about the nature of human trafficking and who is counted, who has access to systems, who is overrepresented, and who is missing. Inclusive CBPR methods empower survivors, underserved community members, practitioners, and activists with data that help to answer the research question of how trust, equity, and effectiveness are reflected in anti-trafficking responses. Focusing upon Colorado Project 2023 findings, this session will illustrate ways communities of color including immigrant and tribal communities, individuals who hold LGBTQ+ identities, and youth experiencing homelessness continue to be more vulnerable to exploitation and human trafficking in Colorado. The session will focus on the nature of trust, equity, and effectiveness within the anti-trafficking partnerships across Colorado that contribute to these inequities, notably the lack of critical representation in partnerships necessary to be more effective. This session will engage participants in the Colorado Project research recommendations focused on inclusion, training, partnership actions, and housing needed to sustain survivor-centered trauma-informed anti- trafficking responses across urban, rural, and frontier communities.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a brief overview of the community-based participatory research key questions and methodologies of the longitudinal Colorado Project to Comprehensively Combat Human Trafficking

•  Present research findings for participants to gain insights on the nature of trust, equity, and effectiveness within the anti-trafficking partnerships across Colorado,

•  Describe the implications of the recommendations within the Colorado Project 2023 Action Plan focused on inclusion, training, partnership actions, and housing needed to sustain survivor-centered trauma-informed anti-trafficking responses

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The Region of Peel’s Anti-Human Sex Trafficking (AHST) Program is a unique, first of its kind program in Canada. With its three-pillar approach, the Peel AHST Program seeks to combat human trafficking through: 1) Prevention – aims to increase awareness and education of sex trafficking through advocacy and training initiatives, community engagement, and education/awareness events; 2) Intervention – aims to increase access to dedicated wrap-around services and supports for victims, survivors, and individuals at-risk through the integrated services hub; and 3) Exits/Housing – aims to increase access to dedicated, safe, and supportive housing for victims and survivors. The Peel AHST Survivor Remuneration Framework acknowledges that the voices of survivors and expertise of survivor leaders must be at the forefront of the anti-trafficking movement. In doing so, the framework advances an equitable and ethical approach to meaningfully engage with survivors by integrating a best practice model for remunerating those with lived experience based on the principles of being non-tokenistic, trauma informed, and preventing further harm. The framework provides guidelines based on identified best practices for compensating survivors of sex trafficking and maintains that organizations cannot expect survivors to offer their time and expertise pro bono. Ethical financial compensation is the only way anti-trafficking organizations can value and acquire vital survivor expertise. Increasing the ethical inclusion of survivor expertise in all aspects of programming, service delivery, policy development, and client pathways is critical to improving anti-trafficking efforts. At the same time, organizations must be cognizant of the ethical, equitable, and meaningful inclusion of survivors into organizational processes.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Promote recognition that an ethical and equitable approach which incorporates the expertise of survivor leaders must be at the forefront of the anti-trafficking movement

•  Discuss how to integrate a best practice model for remunerating those with lived experience based on the principles of being non-tokenistic, trauma informed, and preventing further harm

•  Explains the value and importance of meaningfully engaging with survivor leaders/ individuals with lived experience

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Today’s online world has led to an epidemic of victimization of children. Offenders can locate, groom, and victimize children through numerous apps. Now, with artificial intelligence (AI), offenders can create AI versions of children, manipulate photos of children, and create child sexual abuse material. They can use AI at scale to machine learn victim behavior and utilize that technology to groom at scale. This presentation will highlight current trends and dangers that artificial intelligence poses to victims and the threat to society we now face. It will cover how machine learning can mimic children’s social media accounts to use their own information against them. The presenter will go over the open web and how a simple photo at a school event can be used to exploit children. Attendees will better understand the how AI is employed by how offenders exploit children for online child exploitation and trafficking. They will also learn some safe tips to protect their own social media platforms.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Discuss what AI and machine learning is

•  Explain how offenders are using different technology to make it easier to groom victims

•  Explain how AI will be used by offenders in trafficking and child exploitation

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Maya Tamang, 44, was born into a low-income family in a rural area of Nepal and is the mother of one daughter. She was trafficked to India when she was eight years old. 500 minor Nepalese girls were rescued during the 1996 Indian government raid on all brothels in the nation. When she returned to Kathmandu, WOREC granted her two years of shelter, and then they assisted her in reintegrating with her family in her village. She was forced to move to a different place because of the stigma and discrimination against her HIV condition. Later, she married a man from a different caste. She suffered violence from her husband, and sadly, their marriage was not able to withstand it. Maya started Shakti Samuha, the first organization in the world, founded by human trafficking survivors together with fifteen other survivors. She is employed with the organization. She faces a number of intersectional challenges in her reintegration. In 2013, she was given the opportunity to take part in a participatory action research study conducted by University of Calgary PhD candidate, Rita Dhungel. The study provided her with a safe and judgment-free platform to reflect on her own intersectional oppression and raise her voice, which had been silenced, through the use of photovoice and media conferences. Maya Tamang, who is currently working as a reintegration officer with Shakti Samuha, will share her journey from oppression to liberation. She will also discuss how engaging in participatory action research gave her more self-assurance and empowered her to support campaigns that aim to prevent, protect, and prosecute human trafficking.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Help participants critically understand the challenges of trafficking survivors in reintegration

•  Share the power of trafficking survivors in their reintegration

•  Highlight how participatory action research provided Maya with the opportunity to raise her silenced voice and become involved in advocacy practice

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The Northern Ohio REACH Coalition rightly prides itself on helping victims grow to become survivors and then thrivers. We applaud these gains. Those of us with sexual convictions are never victims. However, we can be viewed as survivors of our prison journey even if that journey was due to our choices. This promotes community safety. Sexual offenders have the ability to learn how to thrive and make a difference in their communities. Everyone can feel safer and more productive when both survivors and those who have abused also thrive. This involves accepting the consequences of past behavior and advocating for humanity and recovery. The judgement of many people creates barriers. Many people believe that pedophilia is incurable and untreatable, but research and hard work allow many of us to thrive. Robert Longo lists seventeen areas where those of us with sexual convictions need to achieve for community safety, which will be examined in further detail in this presentation with the end goal of helping people thrive. In this session, the presenters will discuss the importance of involving mental health agencies to assist in confronting any denial or minimization. This also is important when family reunification takes place. A cooperative arrangement of individuals, family members, mental health, and law enforcement can work together to enhance community safety and a thriving population. The more we establish this sense of community, the better the opportunity to have restorative individuals all living together. The presentation will feature both discussion and slides to reinforce the concepts of healing.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Demonstrate the challenge of reentry and regaining trust

•  Describe how to challenge and refrain our assumptions about life

•  Demonstrate the importance of taking full responsibility for our past behaviors

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Law enforcement, service providers, and medical responders experience sustained exposure to child maltreatment, sexual assaults, and human trafficking. The resulting effects can be devastating and include substance abuse, increased rates of suicide, marital distress, depression and anxiety, and decreased physical wellness. This presentation will focus on learning more about vicarious trauma and gaining tools to assess our personal experience with vicarious trauma to improve our wellbeing. The presenter will differentiate between vicarious trauma and secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, burn out, moral suffering, and post-traumatic stress disorder to understand the impact high-stress work environments have on the wellbeing of those in the profession. Discussion regarding personal experiences, cultural changes within the workplace, and the normalization of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue will be a main priority during this session. The presenter will include various resilience strategies to assist attendees in self-care routines, which also ensures less turnover and better services provided to the victims they serve.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Assist attendees to recognize their own levels of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma by learning about them and the related effects of high-stress work

•  Discuss the need to normalize vicarious trauma in high stress work and access tools and resources to improve their personal and professional lives

•  Describe how to advocate for culture change in the workplace by discussing the importance of leadership buy-in and tools to make a difference

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Dr. Kristen Szabla was born into darkness. Specifically, she was born into a black, cataclysmic web of sexual abuse and exploitation. Dr. Szabla will describe her story of overcoming, not only to bring societal awareness to these all-too-common nefarious acts against humanity, but to bring hope, healing, and ultimately social and policy change. This presentation will chronicle how Dr. Szabla used her knowledge of neurobiology to expedite her journey from the helpless victim state to an empowered survivor/thriver state. Participants will experientially learn not only how the brain functions but how trauma damages and maladaptively wires specific areas of the brain. By understanding the neurobiologic underpinnings of trauma, participants will discover how traumatized individuals are held in a victim-like state, seemingly incapable of change. In addition, the concept of the trauma triangle will be discussed. Using personal examples and visual illustrations, participants will explore strategies as to how to utilize the power of the brain to transform the trauma triangle, potentiate brain rewiring, and expedite healing. This presentation is designed to be accessible for all audiences, regardless of their familiarity with neurobiologic concepts.

 

Presentation Objectives:

•  Provide a synopsis of the survivor’s life experience

•  Provide an overview of the brain in action to explain the neurobiologic impact of trauma and how trauma keeps individuals in a victimized state

•  Introduce the concept of the Trauma Triangle

•  Teach tactics to overcome the Trauma Triangle to potentiate the transformation from victim to survivor/thriver

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