It might surprise people that human trafficking is the second-largest criminal industry in the world and encompasses a wide range of crimes, abuse, and forms of exploitation.[1] One of these is the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), which involves the sexual abuse or exploitation of a child for the financial benefit of another person or in exchange for anything of value.[2] Considered the fastest growing form of human trafficking, an estimated 1.8 million children are involved though the secrecy inherent to the sex trade industry makes an accurate estimate very difficult.[3] When the subject comes up in the media, narratives typically focus on the rescue and the crimes/criminals, leaving out an important question: What happens to the children who have survived these types of traumatic experiences and what forms of support do they need?
 
Unfortunately, there no studies at present that focus on adolescent survivors of CSEC who are struggling with PTSD and/or other mental illnesses who reside in developing or lower-middle income countries. One of the most empirically supported treatments for adults with PTSD is cognitive processing therapy (CPT).[i] CPT focuses on helping individuals identify and begin to modify their rigid beliefs (referred to as “stuck points”)[4] that interfere with the process of recovering from trauma, helping them reach a more balanced perspective. Long-term follow-up studies have been promising with adult sexual assault survivors continuing to demonstrate positive effects 10 years posttreatment.[5]
 
Considering the possible benefits, a pilot study was developed to determine if CPT could be a feasible, safe, and effective treatment for adolescent survivors of CSEC.