Victims and survivors exhibit seemingly counterintuitive behaviors, such as returning to a trafficker, rejecting help, refusing to testify, or concealing information about their trafficker...even when faced with their own prosecution. Understand the “why” behind this behavior and how to work with trafficking survivors to obtain the best outcomes for your mutual goals.

The trauma of being trafficked results in lasting impact on the brain, leading survivors to react in ways that can often be confusing, or feeling like there’s something wrong with you. By learning how the brain reacts to threat and trauma you can learn to recognize how your own patterns may be related to your experience of being trafficked. You will also gain a deeper understanding of why we say your reactions were most likely examples of your brain "doing what brains do." With this deeper understanding you can begin to break free of past patterns and live your life on your own terms.

Dr. Chris Wilson is a licensed psychologist from Portland, Oregon and the Director of Being Trauma Informed, dedicated to making the science of trauma accessible and practical. For the past eighteen years he’s worked with victims and perpetrators of crime. As a consultant and trainer, he's provided training, plenary, keynote, and breakout sessions for conferences and organizations across the United States, Canada, Italy, and Denmark.

Organizations he’s worked with include the US Department of Justice, the US Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Office for Victims of Crime, End Violence Against Women International, the National Organization for Victim Assistance, the National Crime Victim Law Institute, and the New York Police Department.

Bekah Charleston is the Strategic Initiatives Director at The Jensen Project. Bekah’s dedication to the empowerment of Survivors comes from her own lived experience. After surviving a decade of abuse and exploitation, Bekah founded her own organization to provide customized training and consultancy services. Since then, she has provided guidance and coaching for program development, strategic planning, and economic empowerment initiatives to diverse audiences.

Bekah has been an active member of two Task Forces, was a 2019 TEDx speaker, and has been recognized for her critical work in the anti-trafficking field by her colleagues and peers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a master’s in criminology. Most importantly, she is the proud mother of an incredible little boy who she is raising to change the world one day at a time.

Dr. Chris Wilson is a licensed psychologist from Portland, Oregon and the Director of Being Trauma Informed, dedicated to making the science of trauma accessible and practical. For the past eighteen years he’s worked with victims and perpetrators of crime. As a consultant and trainer, he's provided training, plenary, keynote, and breakout sessions for conferences and organizations across the United States, Canada, Italy, and Denmark.

Bekah Charleston is the Strategic Initiatives Director at The Jensen Project. Bekah’s dedication to the empowerment of Survivors comes from her own lived experience. After surviving a decade of abuse and exploitation, Bekah founded her own organization to provide customized training and consultancy services. Since then, she has provided guidance and coaching for program development, strategic planning, and economic empowerment initiatives to diverse audiences.