Between Protection and Coercion: Survivor and Stakeholder Perspectives on Court-Involved Therapy for Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth in Atlanta, Georgia

Court-involved therapy has emerged as a mechanism for connecting commercially sexually exploited youth to mental health services within juvenile justice systems, yet questions persist about how such models can center survivor autonomy, prevent retraumatization, and engage families meaningfully. This qualitative study examined survivor and multidisciplinary stakeholder perspectives on court-involved therapy for commercially sexually exploited youth in Atlanta, Georgia, where no dedicated specialty court operated at the time of data collection. Data were collected from 31 participants—adult survivors, law enforcement, clinicians, and social workers—across three mixed focus groups and three in-depth survivor interviews. Thematic analysis yielded three findings: survivor engagement through peer mentorship and survivor-led training was foundational to trust; court involvement offered access but raised concerns about coercion and retraumatization; and family involvement was critical but underleveraged. Findings underscore the need for flexible, survivor-centered approaches that distinguish between mandating attendance and mandating participation.