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 Marietta, GA 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 Marietta 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.
Therapy for Cutting and Self-Harm in Marietta, GA—Counselors
Underneath self-harm are often traumatic and painful life events and tumultuous emotions. Like most people, people who cut are doing their best to survive and to express their experiences. They often translate their emotional pain into physical pain. While this offers a temporary release, long-term healing often remains out of their grasp.
For many who self-harm, they have found the long-term healing they long for through working with a therapist who can help them identify and heal wounds as well as learn new coping mechanisms for handling difficult emotions that arise. If you are self-harming and are ready for a long-term solution to the pain you feel, know that Thriveworks Marietta has helped many clients find a new way. Reach out today for help.
Risk Factors for Cutting
While anyone from any circumstances can turn to self-injury as a coping mechanism, certain factors increase an individual’s risk for doing so. The following are risk factors that are often common denominators for self-harming behavior.
- Mental Illness: Harming oneself is not an independent mental health diagnosis, but it can occur alongside of many diagnoses. Particularly, people who wrestle with depression, a conduct disorder, an autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, phobias, borderline personality disorder, or schizophrenia may also self-injure.
- Emotional Pain: People who self-harm often have faced unspeakable circumstances such as child maltreatment and neglect, abusive relationships, unemployment, bereavement, poverty, and more. The emotional pain that these trigger may increase an individual’s risk for cutting.
- Drug or Alcohol Use/abuse: One study tracked self-injury cases at a hospital in Norther Ireland, and it found that in over 60 percent of these cases, alcohol contributed. Many people use drugs or alcohol while they harm themselves.
Another Way: Learning Different Coping Mechanisms
There is a cliché that says, “when people know better, they do better.” For many people, cutting is what they know, and for many people, they are willing to learn another way. Challenging emotions and traumatic experiences can be processed in a way that gives people hope and healing. If you are ready to try something new, these are a few coping mechanisms—a place to start learning a different way:
- Call a friend. Make a list of people you can call or text on a regular basis. Let them know more and more about your experiences and feelings are you feel comfortable. Even connecting with a loved one briefly can help people feel better.
- Think about your physical and emotional safety. It is okay to protect yourself. When possible, avoid situations, people, or media that may put you on edge.
- Notice what you are feeling and experiencing. Cultivating self-awareness can be done through journaling, taking a yoga class, going for a nature walk, sitting in a quiet space. Find a way that works for you and give yourself permission observe any feelings that arise.
A counselor or therapist can often identify which coping skills might be most beneficial to a particular person, and many people choose to work with a mental health professional as they heal from self-injury.
Counseling for Self-Harm at Thriveworks Marietta
If it is time for you to reach out for help from a mental health professional, know that the counselors and therapists at Thriveworks Marietta are ready to help. We hope that our clients feel supported from the moment they call our office.
When you call Thriveworks Marietta, a person will answer your call and help schedule your appointment. Weekend and evening sessions are available. We also accept most forms of insurance. Thriveworks Marietta has appointments available for self-harm and cutting. Contact us today.
