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Even in 2024, stigma against sex workers still happens. Sex workers often deal with a lot of stigma and discrimination from society, institutions, and even psychotherapeutic professionals. Some common myths include:
- “Sex work is always dangerous”
- “Those involved spread diseases”
- “All sex workers all addicted to drugs”
- “Sex work is the only work they can do”
- “Criminalising sex workers or their clients is the only way forward”
- “Choosing sex work isn’t feminist, empowering, or even a real choice”
- “They’re only in sex work because of past trauma”
- “Sex work isn’t ‘real’ work”
When sex workers face this kind of prejudice, it can damage their self-esteem and lead to feelings of depression or even thoughts of suicide. Concerningly, this might make them less likely to seek out mental health services.
This is where Sex Worker Affirmative Therapy can help.
What is Sex Worker Affirmative Therapy?
This is a therapeutic approach that aims to support individuals who engage in sex work by affirming their autonomy, agency, and dignity. It acknowledges and respects the choices these individuals make regarding their involvement in sex work and seeks to provide a non-judgmental and supportive environment for them to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Sex worker affirmative therapists understand that the stigma around sex work can cause a lot of distress, rather than assuming the work itself is the main problem. Therapists should treat sex work as a valid job and not try to push sex workers to leave the industry. Working affirmatively involves a respect for their world and choices. The questions the therapist asks should be sensitive and serve to benefit the client rather than satisfy their own curiosity.
What topics might be covered?
Therapists may ask about things like their income, job status, sexual orientation, gender identity, past trauma, discrimination, violence, depression, substance use, and interactions with the criminal justice system where relevant. Therapists should focus on the sex worker’s strengths and the resources they already have and use, rather than seeing them as having problems that need fixing.
Sex workers in therapy might need help with their relationships, whether it’s with their partners, families, friends, or even with themselves. They might also want to talk about safety, dealing with sexual assaults, and having a healthy sex life. Therapy can also cover their emotional wellbeing, setting boundaries, self-worth, social anxiety, substance use (including Chemsex), and internalised stigma.
It’s so important for therapists to be educated about working with different groups, and sex workers are no exception. While it’s okay for therapists to ask about terms they don’t know, being sex worker affirming means going the extra mile to understand the issues sex workers face in their area, including how local laws affect them and their clients.
The red umbrella
Look out for the red umbrella - this is the symbol for sex workers worldwide. Sex worker affirmative therapists should advertise their practice using this symbol to communicate to sex workers they are a trusted source who is not only aware but also affirming.
How can SASH support sex workers?
SASH offers a suite of services to support minority groups, including sex workers. We offer up to 12 sessions of counselling involving realistic treatment goals co-designed with the client. We may also provide an onward referral for the client as we recognise that our support might be just one steppingstone of their therapeutic journey.
References:
- "When sex, health and stigma collide: counselling people who sex work (and their partners" by Cyndi Darnell in Relationally Queer: A Pink Therapy Guide for Therapists