Del Beach-Campbell will look at the prevalence, nature and issues within sex work in the UK today. He will explore the potential mental health implications of being involved in the sex industry and will discuss whether these are down to the work itself or from the stigmatisation of the society we live in. He will also look at the impact of the laws around sex work as well as issues around safety whilst working, barriers to coming forward and seeking support, sexual health issues, addictive behaviours, dealing with bad clients, control, coercion, choice, and diversity within. The session will be inclusive of all genders involved in sex work, and all ways of working from on-street, to indoors, to online services. He will also examine routes in and out of the industry. Through his extensive work with sex workers over the last twenty years Del will ensure that the voices of those of lived experience are included.
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event
- To better understand why people get involved in sex work and how they might feel about being involved in a heavily stigmatised industry
- To better understand the impact stigma, isolation, judgement, and bad clients may have on the mental health of sex workers
- To better understand the true nature of the work from webcams, online, indoors and on the street and different legal models which impact these ways of working
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
- For therapists and other practitioners keen to offer an inclusive environment to all, and market themselves a sex worker friendly service
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
- You will gain a reputation as a practitioner who recognises that it is often us who are hard to reach not the communities we seek to support. Your service will be seen as inclusive, empathetic and free from judgement.
Course Content
Presenter
Del has over twenty years’ experience working with marginalised and heavily stigmatised groups including LGBTQIA+, people involved in Chemsex and substance misuse, male survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse, people living with HIV, and those involved in the sex industry. He has developed and delivered services for the NHS, Terrence Higgins Trust, National Ugly Mugs and SurvivorsUK where he is still the Senior Facilitator in their groupwork programme and runs the Surviving Chemsex group. He is the founder of Delversity and the Chair of The Josephine Butler Society.
