Extending the focus beyond trauma in the treatment of victims of sexual exploitation

Abstract

This symposium discusses psychological treatment approaches tailored to specific needs of migrated victims of sexual exploitation. Treatment for this group is mostly trauma-focused. However, mental health consequences of individual life histories, and psychological problems resulting from traumatic experiences other than PTSD, may require a treatment focus beyond trauma. Personalized treatments are tailored to variations in psychological profiles and take patient preferences into consideration. In this symposium we present: (a) cognitive behavioural therapy aiming at prevention of revictimization after sexual exploitation; (b) disgust and the implications for treatment; disgust is a strong emotional reaction to sexual violence frequently unresponsive to traumafocused treatment; (c) Psychomotor Therapy and Recovery of Intimacy – the importance of raising body awareness and to increase a positive experience of intimacy and sexuality; and (d) schematherapy for victims of childhood abuse, human trafficking and forced migration. A programme has been developed that consists of group schematherapy and psychomotor therapy.