We are pleased to share that we have completed the fifth cohort of our Connection and Recovery after Exploitation (CARE) Groups program and launched the sixth CARE cohort. CARE is a structured support group program designed to provide a supportive healing environment specifically for youth survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. CARE Groups integrate several core components. First, we provide psychoeducation to help youth better understand their mental health. Sessions focus on helping youth learn strategies to identify and manage their emotions, including reducing unhealthy ways of managing emotions and strengthening health-promoting and self-regulation techniques. In addition to education and skill building, CARE Groups integrate supportive group discussions.
We teach survivors about the multiple dimensions of health so that they can set their own areas of focus for the duration of the program and beyond. As CARE progresses, participants share about their progress toward their goals, often discussing the importance of recognizing their emotions and emotional responses so that they can employ the coping strategy most applicable to their needs in a given moment. We facilitate practical and applied exercises to help youth learn to apply and put these skills into practice in their day-to-day lives outside of the sessions. Clients often report feeling proud of themselves for being able to use the skills learned in the program. In a recent focus group discussion (FGD), participants said:
“There are times when you can’t express your feelings, but since joining Eleison, I’ve been very happy because I can always talk and share my problems. Sometimes, for several weeks, you don’t get to share anything, but at Eleison, I was able to [share]. I also learned a lot about emotions because before I didn’t know what to do when I was stressed or confused about myself, and I couldn’t understand myself. That’s why when I joined Eleison, I became very happy because I learned so much.”
“For me, the effect of the Eleison sessions has been a very big help… Before I was always sad, sad, sad…. Then I learned what actions or steps I should take regarding my emotions. [I learned about] self-care too because before I didn’t know anything about self-care. Then when I joined the Eleison sessions, I learned, ‘Ah, so this is how you take care of yourself.'”
CARE Groups help participants use open communication as a means of building peer support and creating a safe environment in which survivors can feel comfortable sharing their experiences without judgment. During the program, we see participants gradually open up to each other about their feelings, daily experiences, and hopes. In addition to strengthening peer relationships, clients learn effective methods for strengthening relationships with trusted persons outside of the program. Survivors have shared with us the importance of opening up to others and the positive impact it has had on their mental health. Participants shared:
“Since joining the Eleison sessions, I feel like I’ve really improved. For example, when it comes to socializing, I didn’t like socializing before because I wanted to be alone all the time. Then I realized that there are actually people willing to listen to my problems. Before I really didn’t like sharing because I wanted to be by myself and solve everything on my own. Then I realized that it shouldn’t be that way. We need to seek help from other people.”
“I’m also very happy because since I joined Eleison I’ve learned so much. Before, I got angry very easily, and I really wouldn’t settle conflicts. I would argue back and both of us would be angry, which is why things never got resolved. But now that we’ve learned how to handle our emotions, if we have a conflict with someone, we should talk properly and calmly. If they’re angry with me, we should just talk about it.”
The self-awareness and skill-building techniques learned in the program help restore a sense of control over emotional and physiological responses that may feel overwhelming or unpredictable among youth who have experienced trauma. These skills support healing by reducing reactivity, enhancing safety, and promoting resilience in the face of triggers or stress. We are proud of the progress that we have seen in survivors who have participated in this important program and look forward to continuing to make this program available to more youth in the future.
