Foregrounding the voices of women who have survived experiences of domestic sex trafficking in the US, this text implements qualitative research methodologies to illustrate how experiences of complex trauma have impact on women’s identities, sexuality, relationships, and re-integration into communities. Building on theoretical understandings of complex trauma and posttraumatic growth, this volume centers insights from in-depth interviews and photovoice methodology to document survivors’ experience of sex trafficking and recovery. Outlining the nature of support and services available, the text identifies recommendations for effective recovery and in doing so, emphasizes women’s capacity for post-traumatic growth. Relationship development, therapeutic and peer-support are highlighted as primary sources of healing. Ultimately, the text affirms the need for trauma-informed, ecological, and relational perspectives in the care of survivors. This text will benefit researchers, academics, and educators with an interest in trauma studies, clinical social work, and those working in mental health research more broadly. The text will also support further discussion and reflection around mental health services and support systems, adult trauma counselling, and mental health policy.

Sex trafficking is too common in our country and there are many who are seeking healing. It is difficult to get that healing when your own story is confusing. Sex trafficking is very complex and not easy for outsiders to understand let alone the person it happened to. What Happened to Me helps survivors of sex trafficking understand and comprehend what they experienced. Real life stories of other survivors that have been trafficked by family, pimps, and gangs help give voice to what happened to the survivors reading this book. It is meant to help break the trauma bond and walk them through the healing process. Survivors as well as clinicians, advocates, and anyone else wanting to understand more about trafficking will benefit from the knowledge in this book. This book was written by a survivor leader who in a licensed counselor that helps other survivors like her heal.

The domestic sex trafficking of minors is a problem of growing concern yet little critical attention. This book analyzes the forces behind the sex-trafficking industry in the United States and provides a much-needed reference for practitioners. It adopts a holistic approach, pursuing a nuanced exploration of these young people's experiences, their treatment, and outside efforts to combat sex trafficking. The book features interviews with service providers and experts, and incorporates recent research, thereby mapping the complex factors associated with young people's involvement in trading sex and the social connections that facilitate their behavior. It considers the experiences of both those who "choose" sex work and those who are forced into it by circumstances or third parties, and it discusses the networks of friends and close acquaintances who introduce newcomers to the trade. In addition, it takes a hard look at how local and federal responses to trafficking increase young people's vulnerability to trading sex. Urging policymakers and practitioners to move beyond the simple framework of "rescuing" victims and "punishing" villains, this book calls for policies and programs that focus on the failure of social and cultural systems and respond better to the young people caught in this web.

The Routledge International Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth offers a rich covering of approaches to different traumatic and stressful experiences in relation to posttraumatic growth (PTG). This handbook explores the benefits that individuals, couples, families, organizations, and communities can experience following the struggle with highly stressful and potentially traumatic events. Split into seven parts and written by a diverse international team of multidisciplinary contributors who provide a comprehensive overview of PTG, topics include religious and spiritual aspects of PTG, gender in PTG, PTG in LGBTQ+, perinatal bereavement, and more. The Routledge International Handbook of Posttraumatic Growth represents an essential resource for students, researchers, and professionals, including social workers, psychologists, nurses, mental health counselors, and psychiatrists. Chapter 1 of this book is freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license

The need for comprehensive insights into mindfulness and well-being within the context of Indian psychology is a pressing issue. The immense stressors of modern life and the ever-expanding demands on academic scholars underscore the urgency of addressing mental and holistic health. Despite the ancient roots of mindfulness practices in Indian psychology, there remains a gap in understanding their contemporary applications and integration into diverse academic disciplines. Promoting Mindfulness and Well-Being with Indian Psychology is a groundbreaking book that offers a timely and much-needed solution to the challenges faced by academic scholars. Edited by leading experts in the field, each chapter serves as a beacon, illuminating the path to mindfulness and well-being within a scholarly context. From theoretical foundations to practical applications, the book provides a roadmap for scholars to enhance their academic pursuits but prioritize their mental, emotional, and physical health. This book is not just a resource; it is a transformative tool that empowers scholars to navigate the complexities of academia with mindfulness, fostering a culture of well-being that extends beyond research papers and lecture halls. For those seeking a holistic approach to academic success and personal fulfillment, this book is the compass that points the way.

Sex trafficking is currently a hot news topic, but it is not a new problem or just a problem in "other" countries. Every year, an estimated 300,000 American children are at risk of being lured into the sex trade, some as young as eight years old. It is thought that up to 90 percent of victims are never rescued. Stolen is the true story of one survivor who escaped--more than once. First recruited while staying with her family at a hotel in Miami Beach, Katariina Rosenblatt was already a lonely and abused young girl who was yearning to be loved. She fell into the hands of a confident young woman who pretended friendship but slowly lured her into a child prostitution ring. For years afterward, a cycle of false friendship, threats, drugs, and violence kept her trapped. As Kat shares her harrowing experiences, readers will quickly realize the frightening truth that these terrible things could have happened to any child--a neighbor, a niece, a friend, a sister, a daughter. But beyond that, they will see that there is real hope for the victims of sex trafficking. Stolen is more than a warning. It is a celebration of survival that will inspire.