An Overview of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

The commercial sexual exploitation of youth and young adults is a national and international epidemic. It impacts youth regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and age. Granted, some groups of youth and young adults are disproportionately impacted by it.

It’s crucial for providers working with youth and young adults to learn about commercial sexual exploitation. “An Overview of Commercial Sexual Exploitation” will introduce you to the topic by talking about federal legislation, whether or not youth choose to be involved in the commercial sex industry, risk factors for being exploited, and the impact of involvement in the industry. Providers will also learn about the resiliency of survivors and an overview of ways to support survivors on their healing journey.

After attending this introductory-level program, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the commercial sexual exploitation of youth.
2. Identify at least three risk factors for commercial sexual exploitation.
3. Discuss the impact of being involved in the commercial sex industry.
4. Describe the needs of commercially sexually exploited youth.
5. Identify warning signs a youth is involved in the commercial sex industry.
6. Identify at least 1 need of youth and young adults who have been trafficked.

This program meets APA’s continuing education standard 1.1: Program content focuses on application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that have overall consistent and credible empirical support in the contemporary peer reviewed scientific literature beyond those publications and other types of communications devoted primarily to the promotion of the approach.

This program meets APA’s continuing education goal  1: Program is relevant to psychological practice, education, and/or science

General Admission: $60

Students: $30* 

The Chicago School Staff/Faculty/Alumni: $45

*Please email [email protected] from your The Chicago School or student account for discount code.

Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program there will be no refunds.

Franchino-Olsen, H. (2021). Vulnerabilities relevant for commercial sexual exploitation of children/domestic minor sex trafficking: A systematic review of risk factors. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 22(1), 99-111.

Gies, S. V., Healy, E., Green, B., & Bobnis, A. (2020). From villain to victim: The impact of safe harbor laws on minors involved in commercial sexual exploitation. Criminology & Public Policy, 19(2), 389-408.

Hounmenou, C., & O’Grady, C. (2019). A review and critique of the US responses to the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Children and Youth Services Review, 98, 188-198.

Reed, S. M., Kennedy, M. A., Decker, M. R., & Cimino, A. N. (2019). Friends, family, and boyfriends: An analysis of relationship pathways into commercial sexual exploitation. Child Abuse & Neglect, 90, 1-12.

Target Audience: Social service providers, behavioral health providers, public health providers, educational providers.

Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods. 

Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available 6.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159

Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036

MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 6.0 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.

School Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 hours of continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s School Psychology Program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this continuing professional development activity. 

Illinois Educators. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 6.0 hours of continuing professional development units. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an approved provider for continuing professional development by the Illinois State Board of Education.  

Participation Certificate. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is able to provide students and other participants who simply wish to have documentation of their attendance at the program a participation certificate.

Non Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.

*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.

If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.

Nicole Klasey, PsyD

Nicole Klasey is a clinical psychologist who consults with agencies on trauma-informed care, programming for commercially sexually exploited children (CSEC), culturally responsive services, vicarious trauma, and leadership development through Klasey Consulting LLC. Nicole has been training multidisciplinary audiences on trauma-related topics since 2015 and has taught graduate level psychology courses. She authored a commercial sexual exploitation intervention and prevention curriculum. Her work has been recognized by Los Angeles County leaders and she has been awarded the State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition by Senator Joel Anderson. She is currently in the process of launching Resilient Wellness of Texas to provide trauma-informed individual and group therapy for system-involved youth and parents.