MCASA’s Expert Training Series: Human Trafficking: Overlooked Populations

Join us for MCASA's Expert Trainer Series, featuring Landon Dickeson, MS, LPC, the Chief Operating Manager at Bob's House of Hope! 

Bob's House of Hope is the first safe house in the country for male survivors of sex trafficking. It is the only residential facility to include Ranch Hands Rescue's innovative Equine and Animal Assisted Counseling intervention. They operate a comprehensive residential program and safe house for young adult male-identifying survivors of sex trafficking and work to prevent sex trafficking of males.

About this Training:

In this training, you will gain insights and practical strategies on how to better serve male survivors of sex trafficking, with a focus on using alternative modalities of therapy. 

Training Learning Objectives: 

• Participants will be able to identify and comprehend the risk factors and signs of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking in various populations, including cis-females, cis-males, and transgender or gender non-conforming individuals.
• Participants will gain awareness of common stereotypes, misconceptions, and biases associated with victims of exploitation, particularly focusing on males and transgender or gender non-conforming individuals.
• Participants will learn foundational principles for working with complex trauma survivors and understand the importance of safety, trust, and connection.
• Participants will explore approach to meet the practical and emotional needs of survivors and create safe and stable environments that promote healing.
• Participants will become familiar with universal screening tools, such as the Commercial Exploitation Identification Tool (CSE-IT), to identify a wider range of victims and avoid biases.
• Participants will understand the barriers faced by cis-male and transgender or gender non-conforming individuals in accessing care and develop strategies to counteract common stereotypes.

About the Trainer: 

Landon Dickeson, MS, LPC is an accomplished mental health professional with over a decade of experience in the field. He serves as the COO for Ranch Hands Rescue and Bob's House of Hope, the first safe house in the country for young adult male-identifying survivors of sex trafficking. Landon graduated from the University of North Texas with a Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a focus on trauma and crisis intervention. Landon has been working and volunteering in the mental health field for over a decade, and he has experience working with high-risk youth, dual diagnosis, suicide loss, sexual assault/abuse trauma, Veteran trauma, and CSEY males. Landon has been trained in Crisis Intervention, Risk of Harm Assessment, EMDR, Equine and Animal Assisted Counseling, DBT, SE, TBRI, TF-CBT, Individual Psychology, PFA, ASIST, PMAB. 

Landon's passion for education led him to create several trainings to increase understanding of complex trauma, sex trafficking, and overlooked populations. He is frequently invited to share his expertise with audiences across the country. Landon's speaking engagements have included participating in a panel at the 2022 JUST Conference, 2022 TNOYS Conference, and various other venues introducing the public to these very important topics. 

Landon considers it the greatest honor of his life to serve the human and animal survivors at Ranch Hands Rescue and Bob's House of Hope. Landon says, "I do not see individuals as good or bad, nor as defined by their diagnosis. I see individuals as coping with wounds to the best of their ability. It is my belief that together, we can uncover new ways to thrive, not simply survive."