5 Stages of Sex Trafficking

24 Hour Crisis Support Line

Stages of Sex Trafficking

The 5 Stages of Sex Trafficking in Canada

Knowing the stages of sex trafficking in Canada can help you to become more informed on the topic, and to recognize the signs of trafficking, particularly with youth and those from marginalized populations. Many incorrect beliefs still exist around how sex trafficking typically happens in Canada- it does not typically involve kidnapping random targets and keeping individuals locked in cages and shipping containers.

As we can see from the stages of sex trafficking outlined here, this is a highly calculated process. Victims are not usually chosen at random, but chosen because they are lacking things in their life that the trafficker is ready to provide for them. Although the traffickers may form different relationships with their victims (i.e., romantic partner, friend, drug dealer, protector, etc.), this pattern of stages is still typically seen, just with different actions.

Generally the 5 stages of sex trafficking are; luring, grooming and gaming, coercion and manipulation, exploitation, and recruitment. As noted here, recruitment is the fifth stage but it does not always occur. Traffickers may or may not use the victims they are currently exploiting to recruit others. It is not a defining characteristic of trafficking, but it often happens in situations where the victim knows many other people who are also from marginalized groups/lacking needs in their lives (i.e., friends from school, group home or shelter neighbours, etc.).

Knowing the 5 stages of sex trafficking is important for dispelling harmful myths about what sex trafficking typically looks like in Canada. The process of coercing someone into sex trafficking does not usually happen overnight- many traffickers spend time to lure and groom their victims, providing them with a false sense of hope, security, safety, and love, before manipulating the relationship and making people feel like they have no other options.

Have open and honest conversations about the 5 stages of sex trafficking with youth in your life, as they are some of the most at risk for being targeted. Often we focus on the exploitation stage and forget about the importance of discussing what the warning signs are of the previous stages. Catching red flags early on in this process increases our chances of stopping sexual exploitation before it happens.

1. Luring. A highly calculated assessment to find the right target, with the goal of gaining their trust (e.g., compliments, making them feel special). Traffickers are looking to collect information on the person's home life, their vulnerabilities, and what things might be missing from their life.

2. Grooming and Gaming. Think of the "honeymoon stage". The trafficker may offer expensive gifts and dates, make grand promises for the future, or fulfill the basic survival needs of the person they are trafficking. Substances and sexual content may be introduced in this stage.

3. Coercion and Manipulation. The trafficker wants to keep their victim on the edge and craving the attention they once had. They may cut back communication, display unpredictable behaviour and anger, and push sexual boundaries, only rewarding with affection when the victim complies. Involves convincing the victim that the trafficker is acting this way because of them, or that they owe them something.

4. Exploitation. The trafficker has manipulated the trafficked person emotionally, psychologically and/or physically into sex work. They may use threats of, or actual violence and use isolation tactics to make victims feel they have no place to go. The trafficker can make them feel they owe them, that this is the only option if they still want food, shelter, and attention, or that they need to do this to support the trafficker's grand plans for the future.

5. Recruitment. This stage does not always occur- it involves a trafficked person being used by the trafficker to recruit other potential targets. Recruiters have earned the trust of the trafficker. Trafficked persons may recruit to keep the trafficker happy and keep themselves as safe as possible, or so they are able to potentially work less and earn more privileges.

Did you know that it costs $50 a month to support one survivor?

KSAC provides healing, safety, and support to those affected by sexual violence and harm, and aims to end sexual violence through prevention education within our communities.

Contact Us

Get Involved

Charitable Business Number: 107837528RR0001

People of All

Backgrounds, genders, sexualities, ages and abilities are treated with respect and dignity in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment at Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.

January 10, 2025January 10, 2025

Types of Grounding

24 Hour Crisis Support Line

Toll Free 1-866-298-7778

Local 705-741-0260

Types of Grounding

Types of Grounding: Mental, Physical, and Soothing

There are many different types of grounding exercises that can help us feel more calm when we face stressful situations or triggers.

Grounding strategies help us cope with overwhelming emotions (i.e., anger, sadness). We can detach from the emotions we are feeling to gain a sense of control. Grounding uses outside sources to help “anchor” you to the present and to reality. These three types of grounding listed here all work to achieve the same goal of regaining mental focus, feeling stable, and feeling able to manage our emotions.

Many people with PTSD or those who are struggling with feeling overwhelming emotions and memories, or those feeling numb with dissociation, benefit from grounding.

Types of grounding can include mental strategies, physical strategies, and soothing strategies. Having a list of various different grounding strategies is helpful, as some techniques may work better for some people, or some techniques may work better for certain situations we are in. It can be overwhelming in the moment to remember grounding strategies, so having a physical list or one in your phone can help you try out various strategies whenever you need them. Grounding can be done anywhere and no one around you needs to know you’re using grounding strategies!

Grounding is a skill, and like any skill it requires practice to get used to. Try practicing these types of grounding techniques even when you don’t need them so that you get used to them and get a sense of which techniques you like and which you don’t enjoy as much. Try to start using these grounding strategies right when you start to feel your emotions getting bigger- it’s much easier to get into the habit of grounding when we still feel okay, rather than when our emotions feel too overwhelming to manage.

Types of Grounding: Mental Grounding. Text reads "Play a categories game with yourself (e.g., types of dogs, a food for every alphabet letter). Say a safety statement like: My name is ____, I am safe now, I am in the present not the past. Describe to yourself or write down an everyday activity you enjoy in great detail. Describe the room you are in in great detail."

Types of Grounding: Physical. Text reads "Run cool or cold water over your hands. Dig your heels into the floor and focus on the feeling of being connected to the ground. Clench and release your fists. Eat a sour candy. Carry a grounding object in your pocket that you can reach for whenever you need. Focus on your breathing.

Types of Grounding: Soothing Grounding. Text reads "Have a list of kind mantras and sayings you can repeat to yourself. Think of a safe space you enjoy and go there in your mind. Listen to your favourite music or read your favourite book or poetry. Think of your favourite things that bring you joy, or look at photos of them.

Did you know that it costs $50 a month to support one survivor?

KSAC provides healing, safety, and support to those affected by sexual violence and harm, and aims to end sexual violence through prevention education within our communities.

Contact Us

Get Involved

Charitable Business Number: 107837528RR0001

People of All

Backgrounds, genders, sexualities, ages and abilities are treated with respect and dignity in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment at Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.

January 10, 2025January 10, 2025

The Window of Tolerance

24 Hour Crisis Support Line

Toll Free 1-866-298-7778

Local 705-741-0260

The Window of Tolerance

Understanding The Window of Tolerance

The Window of Tolerance is a tool we use to learn about our zones of dysregulation and how we can use grounding to get ourselves back in the present moment. Everyone has a “window of tolerance”, the zone in which we feel we’re able to manage the ups and downs we experience in daily life. This zone does not mean everything is perfect, we can still feel the entire range of emotions, but we feel present in the moment and able to manage.

Everyone has a different sized window of tolerance- going through traumatic and difficult experiences can “shrink” our window so that things we may have previously been okay with might make us feel bigger emotions (navigating new triggers, etc.). However, through grounding and other healing work we can grow our window of tolerance as well!

When we dysregulate into “hyperarousal”, that’s when we experience intense feelings of anger, anxiety, fear, etc. We might feel incredibly heightened, like we are ready to burst at any moment. On the other end, we may dysregulate into “hypoarousal”, when we experience intense feelings of sadness, depression, and apathy, often feeling numb and lacking motivation. When we notice ourselves feeling dysregulated and feeling like we might be moving into hypo- or hyperarousal, that’s when we want to use grounding tools to bring us back to the present and back within our window of tolerance!

Remember, we aren’t getting rid of our emotions and we’re not getting rid of the hard stuff, but we’re bringing ourselves back to the present so we can better manage those emotions and reach out for support. It can be hard to focus or know what to do/what we want when we’re at either end of the spectrum, so getting as close to the middle as we can might even just help us have a moment to think, breathe, and plan out what we need next in the moment to feel okay.

A double-headed arrow facing north-south is in the centre of the page, separated into three coloured sections. In both the top and bottom arrow heads text reads "Time to Ground!". The top section is in orange and titled "Hyperarousal". On the left side of the arrow head is a cartoon picture of a volcano. On the right side of the arrow head text reads "Red/hot emotions (anger, anxiety, fear). Feeling heightened, tense, ready to burst, scared, etc." The middle section of the arrow is green and titles "Window of Tolerance". On the left of the arrow text reads "Still experiencing daily ups and downs, but feel able to manage. Everyone has a different sized window and it can change over time. Grounding helps bring us back to our window of tolerance." In the middle of the arrow is a cartoon image of a window looking out into a blue sunny sky with plants on the ledge. The bottom section of the arrow is blue and titles "Hypoarousal". On the right side of the arrow head is a cartoon image of a penguin on an ice floe. On the left side of the arrow head text reads "Bleu/cool emotions (sadness, depression, apathy). Often associated with numbness and lacking motivation."

Did you know that it costs $50 a month to support one survivor?

KSAC provides healing, safety, and support to those affected by sexual violence and harm, and aims to end sexual violence through prevention education within our communities.

Contact Us

Get Involved

Charitable Business Number: 107837528RR0001

People of All

Backgrounds, genders, sexualities, ages and abilities are treated with respect and dignity in a nonjudgmental and supportive environment at Kawartha Sexual Assault Centre.