Clinical Work with Sex Workers: An Interview with Jamila Dawson, LMFT and Dr. Theo Burnes, PhD

Curt and Katie interview Dr. Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson on their new book Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers. We talk about what therapists get wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers, what common biases therapists hold about sex work, what sex work looks like now, and how clinicians can work effectively with sex workers.

Transcripts for this episode will be available at mtsgpodcast.com!

In this podcast episode, we talk about sex workers seeking therapy

There are number of client populations that we just don’t talk about in grad school. Sex Workers are an important group that we find continue to face bias and ignorance in the therapy room. We reached out to Theo Burnes and Jamila Dawson to learn more about this often forgotten client population.

What are therapists getting wrong when thinking about sex work and sex workers?

• Clinicians often are focused on saving people, which is misguided
• We lose opportunities as change agents
• Not understanding sex work and the complexity of any job
• There is a bias about the relationships between sex and work and what sex is

What are common biases that therapists hold related to sex work?

• The bias that there must be trauma if someone chooses to do sex work
• The bias that they must hate their job and want to get out of this work
• The lack of awareness about immigration’s intersection with sex work
• The additional bias related to racism, sexism, and genderism
• Anti-erotophobia
• Anti-neurodivergence – there are more folks in sex work who are neurodivergent due to the flexibility and other characteristics of the job
• Entertainment bias is pervasive with the rescue theme (e.g., Pretty Woman)

What does sex work look like now?

• The “Whorearchy” or hierarchy within sex worker communities (outside vs inside, independent or employee, safety level) – for example working independently in the safest environments (i.e., inside, virtually) is seen higher up the whorearchy
• Different types of sex work including courtesan/girlfriend experience versus other types that are less heterosexual normative
• Understanding the pros and cons of each type of sex work is important for clinicians working with sex workers
• The opportunities related to innovation (sex and porn often drive innovation) and creativity

How can a clinician work effectively with sex workers?

• Getting curious to fully understand the unique situation for the client
• Assessments availability in the book: Essential Clinical Care for Sex Workers
• Pay attention to how you talk about sex work as clients will test whether they can talk about their sex work
• Sex work may not be the presenting issue, but it is relevant to identify whether they are self-identifying as a sex worker to the therapist
• Holding space for clients not disclosing everything at the beginning of therapy
• Showing sex positivity and openness to hear about any sensitive topics (sex, drug use, etc.)
• Understanding the fears and myths that are floating around (e.g., the myth that therapists will call law enforcement or CPS solely because someone reports being a sex worker)
• Being an agent for social change and advocating for systemic change

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Voice Over by DW McCann https://www.facebook.com/McCannDW/

Music by Crystal Grooms Mangano https://groomsymusic.com/