Treatments for self-injury

Jun 22nd, 2009

by Tina.

There are treatments available for self-injury.

Problem Solving Therapy:

Professional therapists help clients identify and resolve problems they encounter. Also they teach clients general coping and problem solving skills.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy:

One of its primary goals is to reduce self-injurious behaviors by helping clients develop new coping skills sets addressing motivational obstacles during treatment and encouraged the client to change and accept him or herself.
Manual Assisted Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

It is a short-term problem solving and cognitive behavioral intervention that teaches clients to manage emotions and negative thinking.
Learning coping alternatives for anger
- ripping up paper
- throwing ice cubes
- throwing eggs
- throwing other non-damaging but loud, messy items at a wall
- punching pillows
- scream into a pillow
- throwing darts at non-living objects
- sing loudly to music
Learning coping alternatives for restlessness
- physical activity such as cleaning or exercising
- drawing on paper
Learning coping alternatives for regulating emotions
- drawing on area where they want to injure themselves
- slashing lines on a piece of paper five times
Learning coping alternatives for seeking sensation
- put a rubber band on the wrist or other part of the body and snap it
- brush skin with a toothbrush
- hold an ice cube to the skin for a certain period of time
- care for a pet
- buy some molding clay to make an object
- keep a safe, smooth object in your pocket (like a stone) and rub it when you feel urge to self-injure