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The Mental Health program at SAGE is staffed
by therapists who are experienced in working with survivors
of trauma, addiction, and sexual exploitation. At least 85%
of SAGE's clients are dually diagnosed, meaning substance
abuse in addition to mental health conditions.
SAGE staff feel deep respect for individuals in the sex industries;
we recognize how hard it can be to just survive sometimes,
and how deep feelings of sadness, fear, or shame can be. Most
often, people who don’t have money never get access
to skilled, compassionate mental health care for any length
of time. At SAGE, we are committed to changing that; we believe
survivors of violence, exploitation, and trauma deserve the
very best health care, emotional support, and opportunities
to heal.
While we can take community referrals, most SAGE Mental Health
program clients are referred through the STAR Center. When
a SAGE client establishes sobriety, the SAGE Mental Health
program offers her or him a space to work on the issues underlying
substance abuse. We focus on trauma recovery, stability, and
maintaining sobriety.
Our staff therapists work with clients to identify treatment
hopes and goals, and to help them figure out what kinds of
issues and trauma work they feel prepared to take on, and
at what pace, while staying clean and sober.
Our staff Case Manager is available to assist with medical
applications, housing or welfare applications, scheduling
appointments, reviewing medications, and getting access to
the community food bank. We know therapy can’t help
a client fully heal unless their basic needs for safety and
physical survival are being met.
The Mental Health Program exists support clients in whatever
ways make most sense for each individual. We particularly
want to offer clients a space where they have individual attention
and time to explore how they've gotten where they are, and
to figure out how to move towards long-term emotional well-being.
This is one of the specific goals of offering a web of services
and resources for survivors of trauma, addiction, and exploitation.
The Mental Health Program therapists are certified in EMDR,
or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, a technique
that works with your body to help you release trauma and get
faster relief from ongoing sources of emotional pain and anxiety.
SAGE clients who are part of our Mental Health program have
access to a number of other resources at SAGE.
Our cooperation with the SAGE Wellness Program and peer counselors
allow our clients to access a whole support system of counselors,
peers, and health practitioners. While health services help
the clients relieve stress and exhaustion, and move through
detoxification, SAGE peer counseling and groups offer a place
to stay connected to positive energy and support in getting
through each day.
As time allows, our Co-Clinical Directors can offer training
programs and presentations in the community, and to other
service providers interested in working with sexual exploitation
survivors. We want the mental health service response to survivors
to improve beyond our immediate program.
The SAGE Mental Health Program is part of the organization’s
broader goal of creating a global network of support, healing,
and advocacy for individuals in systems of prostitution. For
more information on CSE issues or survivor-sensitive healing
modalities, visit the Information Center using the links above.
For more information about FOPP, EIPP, the STAR Center, Mental
Health, or other SAGE programs and services, use the links
above, or contact us at SAGE. |
