How Do Therapists Treat Self-Injurers?

Self-injury is an action of physical harm that is performed intentionally. Unlike suicidal behavior, however, individuals self-injure without actually intending to kill themselves. Often, self-injury acts as a coping mechanism through which people going through a difficult time temporarily feel better. Self-injurers should seek professional help and receive treatment for this condition.

Characteristics of Self-Injury

• According to Self Injury's website, self-injury is a harmful act done to yourself, by yourself. Self-injury must involve an act of physical violence directed toward your own body, although emotionally or psychologically destructive thoughts often accompany self-injury. Self-injurers do not harm themselves because they are suicidal or wish to die. However, the injury must be intentional and performed for the express purpose of hurting yourself. Usually, self-injurers feel a release of emotional pain or tension after committing an act of self-harm.

Going into Therapy

• The first step in treating self-injury is for the individual to decide to go to therapy. This represents a recognition that self-injury is harmful to the self and a willingness to change the behavior. If a self-injurer is unwilling to go to therapy, the chances of relapse are high. This is because the therapeutic process requires that the self-injurer examine his thoughts and feelings and change his behavior accordingly. People who are not ready to enter therapy struggle with the directions set forth by the therapist because they are not prepared to change the coping behavior.

Therapeutic Techniques

• In general, therapy for self-injurers focuses on regulating emotions. Most people who self-injure report feeling incapable of coping with a difficult emotional situation. The act of self-harm releases this emotional tension and makes the person feel better.

  In therapy, clients are instructed to pay attention to the thoughts that make them feel as if they cannot cope with a difficult situation. These are usually self-destructive thoughts, such as "I am worthless" or "I will never be good enough to do well." By recognizing these irrational thoughts, self-injurers can avoid situational triggers that cause them to harm themselves. This approach takes mental discipline and a commitment to avoid the self-injury behavior.

Cure for Self-Injury

• Therapy helps self-injurers recognize the triggers for their harmful behavior and avoid the emotional distress that leads to self-injury. While many people successfully complete treatment and no longer injure themselves, self-injurers may never truly be cured. According to the Self-Injury website, when clients resolve underlying issues and learn to accept distressing feelings, they no longer feel the need to self-injure. However, some self-injurers may learn to manage their condition but not feel as though they are truly cured.

Ways to Improve Treatment Outcomes

• The first step in improving treatment outcomes is to find a therapist with whom you are comfortable. You may find that a person who specializes in self-injurers is compassionate and understanding about the condition than someone who is meeting a self-injurer for the first time.

  Another important way that treatment outcomes can be improved is to ensure that the client is truly engaged in her own recovery process. A self-injurer who is forced to go to therapy by a parent or family member may not improve until he realizes that therapy is the best choice for him and can help him cope. An open and willing attitude toward therapy is the best predictor of clinical success in managing self-injury.