Self-Injurious Behavior: Understanding and Treating Clients who Self-Harm        

Workshop Summary:

This 3 hour (asychronous) continuing education workshop is designed as an introductory course for mental health professionals providing services to clients who engage in non-suicidal self-injury. The presentation will explore the concept of self-harm as a maladaptive coping skill, with attendees developing a better understanding of the underlying reasons and purpose of self-injury. Clinicians will be able to share their knowledge with clients, thus allowing for improved therapist-client cooperation in developing a more positive, effective treatment plan.

Workshop Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

1. Explain the concept of self-harm as a parasuicidal or non-suicidal behavior.
2. Identify at four functions of self-injurious behavior
3. Discuss the role of specific therapeutic interventions and replacement behaviors in treating self-harm.
4. Develop an understanding of the mental health conditions most commonly associated with self-injury.

Workshop Outline

1. Introduction & Overview
• Workshop objectives and agenda
• Defining self-harm
• Separating fact from fiction
2. Demographics and History
• Historical Mentions
• Statistics and Trends
• Celebrity Instances
3. Understanding Self-Harm
• Factors contributing to self-injury
• Forms of self-harm
• Subtypes
4. Interpreting Self-Harm
• Areas commonly harmed
• Relevance of location and severity
• Cuts vs burns
5. Reasons for Self-Harm
• Specific purposes
• Functions
6. Treatment
• Role of Therapists
• Specific Therapeutic Interventions
• Ethical Considerations
7. Case Study Discussion
• Realistic scenario with ethical and clinical dilemmas
• Group reflection and guided questions
8. Co-occurring Disorders
• SIB is not a diagnosis
• Conditions associated with SIB
9. Resources
• Self-harm in the media
• Reading Resources
• Websites
10. Q&A, Wrap-Up & Resources
• Summary of key takeaways