Helping Sex Workers
Too often, when sex workers reach out for mental health support, they are met with stigma, judgment, assumptions, and condemnation from clinicians. This reaction is not acceptable for anyone reaching out for help, especeially for marginalized populations like sex workers.
Those involved in sex work often encounter circumstances and events that are incredibly taxing mentally and emotionally. They also can end up in situations where they are assaulted and violated. And becuase of their marginalized position in society, sex workers too often end up unable to find the help they need or are afraid to reach out and ask for help for fear of the reactions that they may receive.
Like any other person, sex workers need access to help and support as they deal with the challenges, stresses, and traumas they experience, whether part of their life generally or as part of their profession.
Rather than pathologize or condmen, our therapists appraoch providing mental health services to sex workers from a position of respect, compassion, and support. We honor their choice to engage in that work and, like anyone else, we want them to be healthy emotionally and mentally as they go through life.
If you or someone you know is a sex worker and is need of help, there are safe places to reach out. Pivotal Counseling is one of those places. Reach out and get in touch by phone or through our contact form and we will be in touch within a business day.
For more support resources that are affirming of sex workers, visit the Colorado Enterainer Coalition’s website at https://coloradoentertainercoalition.org.