Sex Worker
Community
Sex Worker Community
Fluid Psychotherapy recognizes the barriers that sex workers may face in seeking mental health support. We understand the need for and importance of affirming, understanding, and informed mental health care, and the possible harm that may result when sex workers are unable to access this.
We also value and recognise that as someone that identifies as part of the Sex Worker Community that this may not be the reason for any mental health support needs, or the reason for accessing therapy. Understanding the importance of being able to share with freedom all aspects of life without stigma or judgment.
We work alongside the national charity NUM (as a sex worker friendly associate therapist) whose core ethos of working alongside Sex Workers to carry out research, design and deliver safety resources and tools, and provide support services to people in the adult industries, is something we at our core support and will continue to champion.
Elements
We will never pathologize your individuality as a Sex Worker, for many, their experience within this community can feel full of support and positivity regarding mental health, yet for others, it may feel more challenging or at times, even disruptive, uncertain, unsafe, abusive, or traumatic.
There are no truly shared experiences or impacts the same, as we all have our histories and lived experiences, but there are often some core themes, below we have listed a few of the topics that we often see clients wishing to discuss:
Specific Elements
- Navigating personal relationships and sex work
- Working with stigma and judgment
- Sexual health & sexual safely
- Living with long term health conditions (HIV)
- Cultural & social impacts
- Sex work and the law
- Gender and sexuality in sex work
- Addiction and chem sex
- Sexual abuse, violence, and trauma
- Loss and grief
- Choice and control
- Couples work as sex workers, or in working with couples towards acceptance
Fluidity
The fluidity of mindset around Sex Workers, one of the oldest professions in the history of humanity, is deep-rooted and often polarised. Yet as the industry itself evolves and accessibility via social media for more individuals and couples to work on the fringes of sex work, as well as the changes and challenges in the more traditional models of work adapt, judgment, stigma, and the long-lasting effects of a lack of acceptance, abuse and violence often are under-reported and hidden.
We hope that whilst therapy may not be enough to change and challenge the wider view, it may for individuals from this community help to them to feel empowered, knowledgeable and heard. To find a space to work sensitively and safely through some of the hidden aspects of this work and for their lives to be lived at their fullest with choice, control, and understanding.