“If It’s Not Relevant to Your Diagnosis, We Don’t Need to Ask”: Provider Perspectives on Trauma-Informed Care with Survivors of Sex Trafficking

Author: Gezinski, Lindsay; Richer, Ariel; Dilanchian, Aundrea; Preble, Kathleen; Anasti, Theresa; Dell, Nathaniel & Price, Cassandra

Abstract: There is a lack of research on the impact of trauma-informed care for survivors of sex trafficking. This article examines service providers’ perspectives on trauma-informed best practices for engaging survivors in service provision. Twenty-one service providers in the southwestern US participated in a virtual semi-structured interview that was approximately 1-h in length. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and data analysis consisted of Braun & Clark’s six-stage process for thematic analysis. Five themes were generated from the data, including (1) judgment and stigma, (2) building trust through consistency, (3) compassionate communication, (4) providing opportunities for survivor autonomy and choice, and (5) creating a warm and welcoming environment. Survivors experience stigma and distrust healthcare providers, which can impede their access to and engagement with care. This study highlights the vital role of trauma-informed care in fostering survivor-centered support systems that promote dignity and healing for survivors of sex trafficking.

Keywords: healthcare, human trafficking, service engagement, service provision, stigma