About Ending The Game
LEARN
about psychological coercion
REFLECT
CONNECT
reBUILD
a life
Who We Are
What Is Ending The Game?
Who We Are
What Is Ending The Game?
Ending The Game© (ETG) is a first-of-its-kind “coercion resiliency” curriculum that reduces feelings of attachment to traffickers and/or a lifestyle characterized by commercial sexual exploitation, thereby reducing the rate of recidivism among sex trafficking survivors.
Ending The Game is designed to educate and empower survivors of commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking by providing a structure and framework to uncover harmful psychological coercion (a.k.a. “The Game”) that victims may have been subjected to during or before their exploitation experience.
By revealing a sequence of commonly-used, yet seldom-explained, mind control techniques used by traffickers, sexual abusers, media and other coercive agents, we aim to empower victims to acquire skills and end “The Game.”
At a Glance
ETG commercial sexual exploitation intervention curriculum at a glance
At a Glance
ETG commercial sexual exploitation intervention curriculum at a glance
- 10 core lesson plans available in three formats: 2-hour group class; 1-hour group class; flexible 1-on-1 session
- Survivor-created and survivor-informed
- Facilitates experiential learning through activities, guided reflection and meaningful homework assignments
- Sparks intrinsic motivation to leave a trafficker and/or “the game”
- Caters to of a variety of learning styles including visual, tactile and auditory
- Suitable for participants who may not be strong readers
- Full of excellent resources and easy to follow lesson plans
Video Preview: Survivors talk about how they are Ending The Game
Rachel Thomas
M.Ed., Founder of Sowers Education Group
A graduate of UCLA with a Masters in Education and a personal survivor of human trafficking, Rachel has extensive experience teaching, training, curriculum writing, public speaking and mentoring. She is the founder and director of Sowers Education Group and a Presidential Appointee to the United States Advisory Council on Human Trafficking. Since 2012, Rachel has reached over 150,000 live audience members and millions more through numerous media outlets including CNN, HLN, The New York Times Upfront Magazine and ABC’s Newsmakers. A consistent and respected thought leader in anti-trafficking, Rachel was honored by Congressman Ed Royce of California’s 39th district and Los Angeles Supervisor Don Knabe for her leadership and trafficking prevention efforts.
Carissa Phelps
JD/MBA, Esq., Founder and CEO of Runaway Girl
Carissa Phelps is a practicing attorney, author, trainer, and consultant. In 2012, Carissa, founded Runaway Girl, Inc., a training company that offers survivor-led experiential trainings to individuals and communities. Carissa’s inspiring memoir Runaway Girl: Escaping Life on the Streets, One Helping Hand at a Time, has been instrumental in changing countless hearts and minds. In 2008, she co-produced the award winning short documentary Carissa that took her back to the streets where she was trafficked at 12 years old.
Steven Hassan
PhD, LMHC, NCC, Founder of Freedom Of Mind, Inc.
Steven Hassan is a mental health professional and expert in undue influence tactics with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College and a Doctorate in Organizational Development and Change from Fielding Graduate University School of Leadership Studies. He is the Founding Director of the Freedom of Mind Resource Center, which provides training, consulting and support to individuals who are struggling to leave or recover from a cult and to families and organizations that are concerned about cult behaviors. Dr. Hassan began helping people affected by undue influence after he was deprogrammed from the Moon cult in 1976 at age 22. An experienced educator and presenter for the Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Dr. Hassan’s 45 plus years of experience give him a unique perspective on the damaging effects of undue influence and exploitation by destructive cults.
If I was required to complete this program by the courts when I was arrested, I don’t think I would have been trafficked for so many years — it’s quite an eye-opener.
Tiffany Liles | ETG Facilitator, Sun-Rise Community Services (Las Vegas, NV)
[ETG] is what really opened my eyes and broke chains for me! It put everything into perspective and just kept it real. Truly life changing.
Brittany Pearson | ETG Survivor Participant, Purchased (Shreveport, LA)
We have no idea the impact we make when we come as facilitators to listen, learn, and love each week. The course has changed my life.
Myra Miller | ETG Facilitator, Gems Uncovered (Long Beach, CA)
I’ve taken other trauma-healing type curriculum, and they are nothing compared to this. I especially loved the chapter on how our brains work to protect us. I’m so thrilled to be part of this…it’s emotional, yes, but so, so necessary. I had no idea.
Robbie Hamilton | ETG Survivor Participant, New Friends, New Life (Dallas, TX)
I am convinced that ETG is an essential part of meaningful healing for this population because of the impact I observed in both (community-based and residential) settings.
Karen Kutzner | ETG Facilitator, Worthwhile Wear (Silverdale, PA)