Description & Objectives

Continuing Education Hours: 1.5 CE for LPC, SW, LMFT, and Psychologists

Learning Objectives:

  • Understanding the definition of sex trafficking
  • Learn the indicators of trafficking  

  • How the recognizing the indicators of trafficking can help us in creating a biosocial model of the client 

  • Understanding the behavioral and mental health impact of trafficking  

  • Identification alone is not adequate, understanding the importance of assessment 

  • Understand why a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to support healing for the survivor  

  • Strategies for addressing trauma bonds 

  • Understanding the stages of change when working with survivors 

Instructor

Elizabeth Schutz

Elizabeth Schutz grew up in Los Angeles, where her mom’s work as a nurse practitioner serving individuals living on Skid Row had a profound impact on her. After starting her career teaching elementary school, Elizabeth moved to Texas and went back to school to pursue her master’s in counseling. While in grad school at Dallas Theological Seminary she started working at an area safe house for victims of sex trafficking. Elizabeth saw firsthand the struggles these survivors faced in accessing the necessary mental health services needed for recovery to even be possible. During this time, she realized that advocating and providing survivors with equal access to recovery through evidenced-based mental health services in residential care was her passion. Elizabeth is the Director of Clinical at Treasured Vessels Foundation, where she leads a team in providing comprehensive long-term residential services to survivors of trafficking and exploitation. She also serves on the board of C7, the Denton County Coalition addressing human trafficking. Lastly, Elizabeth is a part of a collaborative group through HEAL Trafficking, which is working to address gaps in acute mental health services for victims of sex trafficking.