Preferred registration deadline: February 5th

3 CEs

St. Louis currently ranks 8th in the nation for human trafficking cases. Despite the widespread nature of this issue, there is limited guidance on evidence-based therapy modalities specifically for survivors of sex trafficking. Historically, treatments used for intimate partner violence and abuse have been applied to this population, but the trauma experienced by survivors of sex trafficking is often more complex.

This workshop focuses on adult survivors of sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation. We will explore how trauma-related mental health symptoms - such as suicidal ideation, dissociation, psychosis, and severe emotional dysregulation - commonly present in this population. Participants will learn trauma-informed engagement strategies and therapeutic approaches shown to be effective, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and interventions rooted in Relational-Cultural Theory. We will also examine the role of developmental and attachment trauma as a frequent underlying factor in both mental health symptoms and increased vulnerability to trafficking.

This is an interactive synchronous distance learning course via Zoom. 

General Admission: $65**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.

Class size is limited to 45.

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Course Outline

Content Level: Intermediate

Target Audiences: Clinical social workers, counselors, psychologists, and other professionals working with survivors of trafficking.

Agenda:

• Welcome and Introduction - 5 mins
• Overview of definitions of target population - 20 mins
• Mental health symptomology for survivors of trafficking/CSE - 30 mins
• Trauma-informed, client-centered, and harm reduction applications in a clinical setting for survivors and case consultations - 60 mins
• Promising practices of effective mental health modalities - 55 mins
• Closing and Q&A - 10 mins

Learner Outcomes

• Differentiate between trauma symptoms commonly seen in survivors of sex trafficking and those associated with other forms of interpersonal violence.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of traditional trauma treatment models when applied to survivors of sex trafficking.
• Apply evidence-informed therapeutic modalities—such as EMDR, DBT, and Relational-Cultural Theory—to case examples involving survivor populations.

Course Completion Requirements:

• The Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, Professional Development, provider #2130, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/24/2025 – 9/24/2028. Social workers completing this course receive 3 clinical continuing education credits.
• The Brown School is also an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois.
• To earn ACE credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. ACE credit is not provided for partial attendance.  However, you may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs provided by the Brown School.
• Brown School CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown.  You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available. ACE CE Certificates, if requested in your evaluation survey, will be emailed within 10 business days of course completion.
• For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancellation policy, our grievance policy, or other inquiries, please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.