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Sex Trafficking Beliefs in Counselors: Establishing the Need for Human Trafficking Training in Counselor Education Programs

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Abstract

Human trafficking is a transnational crime that counselors must be prepared to address through advocacy efforts and within therapeutic settings. The present study sought to examine whether sex trafficking attitudes were different in counselors based on training specialization, workplace setting, biological sex, and previous human trafficking training. A national sample of 866 licensed professional counselors, clinical counselors, and school counselors participated in the study. Sex trafficking attitudes were measured using the Sex Trafficking Attitudes Scale (STAS). Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and post hoc descriptive discriminant analyses (DDA) were used for data analyses. A statistically significant model for training was identified on attitudes related to awareness and efficacy. The present study provides empirical evidence for the importance of incorporating sex trafficking content into counselor education graduate programs. Professional counselors are additionally encouraged to pursue sex trafficking trainings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Counseling, Educational Leadership, and Adult Learning Department, Cleveland State University, 2121 Euclid Avenue, Julka Hall 275, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA

    Stacey Diane Arañez Litam

  2. Department of Health and Human Performance, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH, 44115, USA

    Eddie T. C. Lam

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  1. Stacey Diane Arañez Litam
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  2. Eddie T. C. Lam
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Correspondence to Stacey Diane Arañez Litam.

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Litam, S.D.A., Lam, E.T.C. Sex Trafficking Beliefs in Counselors: Establishing the Need for Human Trafficking Training in Counselor Education Programs. Int J Adv Counselling 43, 1–18 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-020-09408-8

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