Michelle Contreras, PsyD, instructor

The U.S.’s early human trafficking legislation (TVPA, 2000) with international focus, quickly lead to the misconception that domestic trafficking was not of concern. However, a number of organizations, providers, and representatives of law enforcement have long known that domestic trafficking is a current, pervasive, and concerning issue in the U.S. that is on the rise and requiring our immediate attention. The presentation will describe the overlaps and differences between international and domestic cases of trafficking, offering a framework that brings these issues together. While domestic and international trafficking affects both minors and adults irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, the presenter will outline research demonstrating that being poor, female, and of an ethnic and/or racial minority constitute high risk factors for trafficking among other vulnerabilities. Because human trafficking harkens back to Slavery across the Americas, including the US, the presenter will explain how such socio-historical events are related to the demand issues of modern day slavery. International trafficking is often confused with other immigration-related issues such as human smuggling, which will be explained and clarified. Moreover, the presenter will offer a framework that is inclusive of all immigrant groups, and helpful to understand where intersecting issues exist and how these are and are not related to trafficking. Labor trafficking for work exploitation has received significantly less social, legal, and academic attention. In response, the presenter will include case material and research on worker exploitation. Trauma reactions that commonly result from trafficking will be reviewed including post-traumatic stress disorder, complex trauma, and developmental trauma disorder among others. Also of attention will be cultural factors influencing trauma reactions and trafficking trends. The trainer will also introduce a general trauma-informed framework for working with survivors of trafficking, and issues to consider when evaluating this population for treatment and legal purposes.  Relevant research and case studies will be used throughout to highlight the concepts presented. The issue of self care and provider burnout will also be integrated throughout the presentation with the objective of providing a model for provider coping.

Upon completion of the program the student will be able to:

·         Increase understanding about domestic and international cases of human trafficking

Program Code: DIT6 
6 CE Credits
Location: at MSPP, Newton

Michelle Contreras, PsyD, is currently an adjunct faculty member in the MA Counseling Psychology Department at MSPP, a clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School, consultant of Project Reach at the Trauma Center/JRI, which provides Nationwide trafficking-related trainings and clinical services, and she is serving on several of APA’s trafficking-related initiatives. Dr. Contreras earned her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. Dr. Contreras also holds a Psychology Licentiate Degree from Universidad Rafael Landivar conferred in Guatemala. She has trained and taught mental health professionals extensively in the treatment of trauma-affected populations. Her teaching interests include the psychological effects of human trafficking and other immigration-related issues, participatory action research methods, cross-cultural academic collaborations, and diversity. Dr. Contreras has over ten years of professional clinical experience and she has consulted to a wide range of organizations throughout the U.S. on the treatment of psychological trauma and trafficking.