Self harm: how to understand and what to do

Self-harm, also known as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), refers to behaviors where a person deliberately hurts themselves without the intention of ending their life. While they may seem alarming, it is important to recognize that, in most cases, they are not a suicide attempt, but rather a way of coping with overwhelming emotions.

Why Does Self-Harm Occur?

Understanding the reasons behind self-harm is key to offering effective support. These behaviors are often a response to difficult emotions, such as:

Intense emotional stress: Many people who self-harm do so to reduce internal tension. It can be a way to externalize emotional pain physically.
Feelings of emptiness or disconnection: Some individuals turn to self-harm to feel something when they are emotionally numb or disconnected.
Low self-esteem: Self-harm is often linked to feelings of self-hatred, shame, or guilt.
Control: For some people, inflicting physical pain gives them a sense of control over their emotions or circumstances.
Communication: Although not always conscious, some individuals use self-harm as a way to express their distress to others or as a cry for help.

Risk Factors

People who self-harm often face multiple emotional and psychological challenges, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or eating disorders. Factors such as a history of abuse, bullying, social pressure, or family difficulties can increase the likelihood of engaging in these behaviors.

What to Do if Someone Self-Harms

Listen without judgment: If someone close to you self-harms, the most important thing is to offer emotional support without judgment. Avoid minimizing their feelings or simply telling them to "stop doing it," as this can hinder the path to recovery.
Encourage seeking professional help: A therapist or psychologist can help identify the underlying causes and provide strategies for managing emotions in healthier ways. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) are effective approaches for treating self-harm.
Explore healthy alternatives: Instead of turning to physical pain, it may be helpful to suggest other ways of expressing or releasing emotional tension, such as writing, drawing, exercising, practicing meditation, or talking to a trusted friend.
Create a safe environment: Helping the person avoid access to objects they could use for self-harm can be a temporary measure until they develop healthier tools for coping with pain.

How to Prevent Self-Harm

Preventing self-harm is not easy, as it requires addressing the underlying emotional and psychological causes. Some strategies include:

Encouraging open communication about emotions from a young age.
Developing emotional coping skills, such as emotional regulation and resilience.
Promoting positive self-esteem and a sense of belonging within a community or support group.

Final Reflection

Self-harm is a complex behavior, but it is possible to overcome it with the right support. Understanding the reasons behind this behavior, offering empathy, and guiding the person toward professional help are key steps on the road to healing.

What are the benefits of a free consultation?

Getting to know the psychologist: You can talk to the psychologist to see if they are a good fit for you in terms of their work style, personality, and specialization.

Defining the problem: You can describe your problem in detail and get qualified advice from the psychologist, which will help you better understand the nature of your problem.

Developing a plan of action: You can get recommendations on how to solve your problem, which methods and approaches may be the most effective.

Feeling supported: You can get emotional support and feel that you are not alone, because the psychologist will listen to you attentively.

Who is a free consultation suitable for?

Those looking for a psychologist: A free consultation can help you make the right choice, as you can talk to several psychologists before making a final decision.

Those who are unsure whether they need psychotherapy: A free consultation can help you understand whether psychotherapy can help you solve your problem and whether it is right for you.

Those who have a limited budget: A free consultation is an opportunity to get qualified help from a psychologist for free, to see if you need further psychotherapy.

Those who may be nervous or hesitant to start psychotherapy: A free consultation gives you the opportunity to overcome your fear of the first meeting with a psychologist, get answers to your questions, and feel more confident.

Important:

A free consultation is not a substitute for psychotherapy.

In a free consultation, the psychologist cannot give you a final diagnosis or prescribe treatment.

The purpose of a free consultation is to help you determine if a psychologist and psychotherapy are right for you, and to give you the first steps to solving your problem.

Potential benefits of a free initial consultation

During this first session: potential clients have the chance to learn more about you and your approach before agreeing to work together.

Offering a free consultation will help you build trust with the client. It shows them that you want to give them a chance to make sure you are the right person to help them before they move forward. Additionally, you should also be confident that you can support your clients and that the client has problems that you can help them cope with. Also, you can avoid any ethical difficult situations about charging a client for a session in which you choose not to proceed based on fit.

We've found that people are more likely to proceed with therapy after a free consultation, as it lowers the barrier to starting the process. Many people starting therapy are apprehensive about the unknown, even if they've had sessions before. Our culture associates a "risk-free" mindset with free offers, helping people feel more comfortable during the initial conversation with a specialist.

It's important to note that the initial consultation differs from a typical therapy session:

It can last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the specialist determining the appropriate length for this introductory meeting.

The free initial consultation is not intended to be a full therapy session. It is an opportunity for the client to learn more about the specialist and their approach to therapy, and to decide whether they want to work together.

The specialist should set clear boundaries for the free initial consultation, including the length of the session and the topics that can be discussed.

The specialist should be prepared to answer questions from the client about their experience, training, and qualifications.

The specialist should not give specific advice or recommendations during the free initial consultation. This should be done during a paid session.