Self-harm counseling is aimed at helping individuals who struggle with harming themselves break this pattern by addressing the underlying emotional causes and working to develop new, healthier coping skills. Thriveworks self-harm therapists in Alexandria, VA are experienced in treating those who self-harm with empathy, compassion, and unconditional regard in order to help them heal and recover, both physically and emotionally.
Self-harm counseling at Thriveworks often uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to help clients discover the connections between their thoughts and feelings and their behaviors. By assessing these areas, Thriveworks Alexandria therapists can help clients find and address the true emotional roots of their patterns and, from there, effectively adjust unwanted behaviors.
The duration of self-harm counseling will often depend on a variety of factors, such as the intensity of an individual’s symptoms or the current levels of stress present in their lives. Because of this, treatment can last a handful of months or on a continual basis over the course of years. In the end, it’s up to the client and their individual needs.
Self-Harm Interventions in Alexandria, VA (Franconia)—Counselors and Coaches
If you or someone you love copes through self-harm, know that Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) offers counseling for this condition. Self-harm may be the only way some people know how to survive, but when they are ready to learn new ways, the counselors at Thriveworks are ready to help them.
Various Forms of Self-Mutilation
When most people think about self-harm, they may assume that means cutting, and while cutting is one of many forms of self-mutilation, there are other ways that people injure themselves. Often, people combine different forms of self-mutilation.
Common forms of self-mutilation may include…
- Burning—harming oneself through heat, possibly with matches, hot objects, cigarettes.
- Scratching or cutting—using sharp objects to create lacerations upon the skin.
- Carving, branding, or tattooing—utilizing symbols or pictures or words along with the pain.
- Hitting—punching, biting, picking at oneself.
- Pulling hair—forcibly and painfully removing significant amounts of hair.
- Interfering with a wound—intentionally hindering the healing process.
Often, people’s legs, torso, and arms receive the wounds. Some people may participate in self-mutilation for a few times and then quit. Some people may struggle with harming themselves on a regular and on-going basis.
Risk Factors for Self-Harm
People in a variety of life circumstances and across different socio-economic factors often struggle with self-harm. While anyone can struggle, a few factors may make a person more likely to participate in self-mutilating actions:
- Mental Disorders: When people struggle with a mental illness, they are often at greater risk for also participating in self-injury. For example, people who have borderline personality disorder, depression, a conduct disorder, an autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, phobias, or schizophrenia may be particularly vulnerable to self-harm.
- Psychological Factors: Childhood abuse is often a significant factor when people self-mutilate. Other psychological trials can raise a person’s risk as well, such as bereavement, difficult relationships, unemployment, and poverty.
- Drug or Alcohol Use: Drug and alcohol dependence and withdrawal can increase people’s risk for self-mutilation. One Northern Ireland study found that in over 60 percent of patients who presented for self-harm, alcohol was a significant factor.
Counseling for Self-Mutilation at Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia)
The therapists at Thriveworks understand. Learning new coping mechanisms that do not harm one’s own body can feel like an overwhelming or impossible task, but many people are learning to process their pain instead of expressing it upon their bodies.
When you are ready to meet with a counselor, Thriveworks Alexandria, VA (Franconia) is ready, too. We offer evening and weekend appointments, and we accept most forms of insurance. Lean upon us while you heal. Contact Thriveworks Alexandria to get started—you can reach out by phone or schedule your first appointment online.
