"Social Workers’ Resilience When Working with Individuals with Harmful Sexual Behaviors: Positive and Negative Practice Experiences"

Background and Purpose:

Over 700,000 professionals in the U.S. are engaged in efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect, yet limited research addresses the experiences of social workers who provide services to people with harmful sexual behaviors (PWHSB). These practitioners face emotionally taxing, ethically complex, and socially stigmatized work conditions. The purpose of this study is to explore the individual and professional experiences of social workers who engage with PWHSB, with a focus on understanding the psychological, emotional, and ethical impacts of their work, as well as the factors that contribute to their resilience.

Methods:

This qualitative study employed semi-structured interviews with MSW social workers across the United States who have direct experience working with PWHSB. Purposive and snowball sampling strategies were used to recruit participants with at least one year of practice in clinical or community settings. A total of 16 social workers were interviewed. Data was collected via virtual interviews, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using NVivo software. Coding focused on experiences related to emotional labor, moral conflicts, organizational supports, and personal coping mechanisms.

Results:

Participants reported a range of complex responses to working with PWHSB, including emotional fatigue, professional isolation, and moral ambiguity. Despite these challenges, many demonstrated strong commitment to rehabilitation goals and identified supportive supervision, peer connection, and reflective practices as key to sustaining resilience. Stigma from colleagues, communities, and even within the justice system created additional burdens. Participants emphasized the need for specialized training, clear organizational protocols, and trauma-informed supervision. Their narratives also reflected a through understanding of client humanity, which helped them balance personal values with professional responsibilities.

Conclusions and Implications:

The findings highlights the pressing need for systemic and institutional support for social workers who engage with PWHSB. Resilience is not solely an individual trait but is shaped by organizational culture, access to supervision, and training. This study contributes to a growing body of literature advocating for enhanced education, structured peer support, and trauma-informed organizational frameworks. Improving these conditions may not only enhance practitioner well-being but also lead to more ethical and effective service delivery for a highly marginalized population.

Keywords: child sexual abuse, harmful sexual behaviors, social work practice, professional resilience, qualitative research