Sexual exploitation and trauma during Covid-19: why we are diversifying our therapeutic support

Orchards works with women who have experienced trauma as a result of sexual exploitation. This includes those who have been trafficked for sexual purposes and those exploited through the legal and illegal sex industry in prostitution, pornography or sex tourism. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the trauma of sexually exploitative situations; aside from the obvious risks of exposure to the virus, there have been less obvious risks; exploitation has been pushed further behind closed doors, online exploitation has increased and trafficking services predict there is a risk of women being killed if they fall ill with Covid-19. Lockdown has also brought with it increased isolation from existing support services; in the current crisis many support routes have closed and women’s services are overwhelmed with the need as domestic violence incidences rose by 7% from 2019 during lockdown.

The psychological impact of sexual exploitation can be significant and wide-ranging, with many survivors experiencing severe anxiety, depression, flashbacks, PTSD, low self-esteem and relationship difficulties as a result of their traumatic experiences. Trauma impacts women in different ways and may be especially present and acute in the immediate aftermath of exiting sexual exploitation. Some trauma reactions may include feelings of overwhelm, feeling unsafe in themselves and their surroundings, being unable to regulate how they feel, feelings of shame or self-contempt.

Continuing to grow our specialist trauma counselling for women already in our housing provision either face to face or through video counselling during lockdown is therefore one of our key priorities in 2021.

However, we are very conscious that the need for therapeutic support goes way beyond just the women in our safe housing. Access to appropriate counselling support has always been difficult, with very few specialist counselling services out there and long waiting lists; many of the limited counselling services available are London-centric.

Through the women we have supported over the past year, we are also aware that eating disorders and other self-harming behaviour are a common response to trauma.

So, this year we really excited to be developing a new therapeutic wellbeing programme, to include:

1.       remote (video) counselling provision to women across the UK who are not within our housing provision, following a successful pilot of this approach in 2020.

2.       health and nutrition support, available to women in our safe housing and those accessing our remote support.

More details to follow….