Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Conversations: Engaging Impacted System-Involved Youth with Empathy

Nola Kesia Brantley

Training Description

This training equips participants with practical, trauma-informed conversation skills to engage system-involved youth who have experienced or are at risk of Commercial Sexual Exploitation  with empathy and clarity. Participants will practice how to build rapport, reduce shame and defensiveness, and respond to coercion, risk, and vulnerability without pushing or interrogating. Through structured scenarios and discussion prompts, participants will strengthen their ability to elicit needs and goals while prioritizing safety planning and supporting youth voice. The strategies taught will help participants improve communication that supports trust, disclosure, engagement in services, and positive outcomes for system-involved youth.

Learning Objectives

• Participants will be able to distinguish at least one difference between empathy, rapport-building, and trauma-aware communication from compliance-driven interviewing when supporting system-involved youth. 

• Participants will acquire at least two language tools for validating experiences, reducing shame, and inviting system-involved youth to share what they need.