A Qualitative Study of Professionals’ Challenges Working with Survivors of Sex Trafficking

The challenges involved in serving the vulnerable population of survivors of sex trafficking have received insufficient study. What are the challenges professionals experience when working with survivors of sex trafficking was the research question addressed. Subquestions to the main research question were as follows: (a) What are the challenges professionals face when working with survivors of sex trafficking? and (b) How does interacting and working with the population of sex trafficking survivors impact professionals’ emotional and mental well-being? A consideration was also given to strategies to avoid professional burnout and vicarious trauma. The researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 professionals who work with survivors of sex trafficking in and around a midsize southern United States town. Three male and seven female professionals identified several challenges they experienced when working with survivors, including the professional challenge of solidifying aftercare for survivors, as well as personal burnout, lack of self-care, and feelings of guilt or inadequacy. The researcher used the program Dedoose to collect data and identify themes within the research. The data analyzed focused on the variety of challenges and limitations professionals experience, the risks influencing their well-being, and the resiliency factors motivating them to continue serving this population. Implications of the study for professionals, policy makers, and stakeholders are discussed