How DBT Helps Teens who Self-Harm
March is Self-Harm Awareness Month, and we at Mindful Healing are putting a special focus on this common concerns for parents of teens. Self-harm is a deliberate act of hurting one’s body without suicidal intent. It could look like cutting, burning, skin-picking, hitting body parts with a fist, or hitting body parts against something like a wall. Although there is no suicidal intent, that doesn’t mean that it’s not serious concern. According to one study in 2014, 17.2% of adolescents have engaged in self-harm behaviors.
Why Do Teens Self-Harm?
There are several reasons why a teen might engage in self-harm behaviors:
To escape or gain relief from psychological pain
To feel something if their emotions are numb
To create a visual representation of how they’re feeling on the inside
To punish themselves for making a mistake or doing something “bad”
To obtain care and concern if they don’t know how to ask for help
A common misconception is that teens self-harm to simply get attention. This can result in adults dismissing the behavior. However, this invalidation can actually cause the self-harm to worsen.
How Does DBT Help Teens who Self-Harm?
If you discover that your teen is self-harming, getting connected with a therapist who specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help to minimize and even put a stop to these behaviors. DBT has repeatedly been found to be significantly more effective at reducing self-harm in teens compared to other treatments. DBT helps teens who self-harm in the following ways:
Individual therapy to address the root cause(s) of the self-harm behavior
Group therapy with other teens to learn and practice new coping skills
Parent coaching to get the family involved in practicing skills at home
Some of the coping skills your teen can learn in DBT are:
Mindfulness, to stop focusing on the past or future and remain in the present moment
Distress Tolerance, to be comfortable with uncertainty and painful feelings
Interpersonal Effectiveness, to better communicate your teens needs
Emotional Regulation, to understand that emotions are not permanent and eliminate the impulse to react
Radical Acceptance, to understand that your teen is still a valuable person, even when they make mistakes
If your teen is engaging in self-harm and you want to get them some professional help, set up an appointment with Mindful Healing today!
