Seeit | Harper Counselling PNCPS Accredited Cbt Counsellor

Sexual Exploitation Early Intervention Training (SEEIT)

I have over 15 years experience of developing and facilitating workshops and training on child sexual exploitation.

I deliver training in secondary schools, youth groups, third sector and public sector organisations in Scotland, Germany and Norway, offering support and advice to victims of sexual exploitation and their family. I have supported many young people and adults through the Police / Court process.

SEEIT (Sexual Exploitation Early Intervention Training) workshops tackle a range of sensitive issues with the aim of preventing child exploitation through education. They can be delivered to young people from age 11 years upwards. (Not every topic is covered in each age group.)

Topics include:

Grooming
Sexual Abuse
Internet Abuse
Bullying
Sexting
Consent
Body Image
Power and Control
Blackmail and Coercion
Peer Pressure
Healthy & non Healthy Relationships
Alcohol & Drugs in relation to sex and consent.

SEEIT workshops facilitate learning by creating meaningful discussion between young people. The age appropriate workshops educate young people to identify features of an exploitative friendship or relationship in contrast with the development of a healthy relationship, giving them clear information about what sexual abuse is, how to report abuse and how to access support.

They highlight risk-taking behaviours including drug and alcohol misuse, self esteem, confidence issues, consent, e-safety and explore different types of grooming and exploitation in a manageable way. This allows young people to relate to the information positively by actively asking questions and creating discussion.

By the end of the workshops young people will be able to identify the grooming tactics that perpetrators use to gain trust enabling them to go on to abuse.

Sexual exploitation is a form of sexual abuse, in which a young person is manipulated or forced into taking part in sexual activity.

Young people from any background can be exploited for sex in this way. Boys and young men are abused as well as girls and young women.

In all cases, those exploiting the child or young person will have power over them by virtue of their age, gender, intellect, physical strength and/or economic or other resources.

Child sexual exploitation can happen in person but can also occur through the use of technology.

Young people access the internet through a variety of means and in particular there is growth in use of mobile technology.

This makes the usual protective factors more difficult to apply. Protection messages for children and young people on the safe use of technology should include raising awareness on Sexual Exploitation and how to respond if they are concerned about their own or others safety.

All young people may be at risk – whether it’s due to lack of confidence and experience in the online world, or high exposure due to increased accessibility.

Where does the risk come from?

Content – children and young people accessing pornographic material or being exposed to unwelcome sexual content, such as pop ups.

Grooming - Being targeted by a stranger who develops a relationship with the intent of sexually exploiting the child/young person. (Grooming is when someone builds an emotional connection with a child to gain their trust for the purposes of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or trafficking. Children and young people can be groomed online or face-to-face, by a stranger or by someone they know. Groomers may be male or female. They could be any age. NSPCC.)

Conduct – children and young people creating, uploading or seeking out sexually inappropriate material.

Combinations – content, grooming and conduct are intrinsically linked and young people can behave in different roles at different times.

For victims, the pain of their ordeal and fear that they will not be believed means they are too often scared to come forward.

Sexual abuse of children is not a rare occurrence. It happens at all social levels, in all parts of the world, in all races and cultures. But despite increased public awareness, the true extent of child sexual abuse remains hidden.

Children who have been abused suffer feelings of guilt and shame, which can dramatically affect their lives as adults. They may experience long-term emotional and psychological problems and difficulties in forming relationships later in life.

Many have low self esteem, self harm and often do not know how to show or receive affection without acting sexually.

SEEIT workshops involve interactive small group and whole class discussion, short video clips and power point presentations. They can be tailor made to respond to individual schools needs or concerns.

Awareness raising sessions can also be delivered to staff and parents/carers.

For more information or to discuss booking workshops please contact me by e-mail or phone.