Photo of Kateryna Barnes, Licensed Professional Counselor in Greenville, SC
Kateryna Barnes
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, NCC, CCPS
Verified Verified
Greenville, SC 29615
In my tenure as a mental health professional I have served diverse populations in multiple settings to include: school-based, residential, community mental health and higher-education environments. Proficient in four languages (Ukrainian, Russian, French, and English), I provide culturally competent and trauma-informed clinical services to help people from all walks of life obtain access to mental health services. As a strong generalist, my therapeutic interests include a range of mental health issues and complications in individuals, couples, and families. As a trauma specialist, I hope to make the world as safer place for all.
In my tenure as a mental health professional I have served diverse populations in multiple settings to include: school-based, residential, community mental health and higher-education environments. Proficient in four languages (Ukrainian, Russian, French, and English), I provide culturally competent and trauma-informed clinical services to help people from all walks of life obtain access to mental health services. As a strong generalist, my therapeutic interests include a range of mental health issues and complications in individuals, couples, and families. As a trauma specialist, I hope to make the world as safer place for all.
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Self-Harming Therapists

How does therapy for self-harm work?

A person may turn to self-injury so that they can distract themselves from their stress, depression, anxiety, or upsetting circumstances. Therapy can address the cause of an individual’s suffering. A therapist can help a person understand why they may want to self-harm and help the person learn new methods of coping. A person may have poor emotion regulation, and treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is helpful for breaking this behaviour. In addition, treatment such as dialectical behavior therapy can help a person manage their tolerance of distress.

Which therapies are best for self-harm?

Specific approaches used by professionals include cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, psychodynamic, and mentalisation-based therapies, among others. Cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies are common approaches for people who have painful thoughts and past traumas. These therapies help an individual cope with distress, regulate emotions, and manage impulsive urges.

Does the tendency to self-harm mean the person is suicidal?

Having this urge does not mean the individual suffers from suicidal ideation. People who want to self-injure look to distract or alleviate themselves from the pain they are experiencing. People with suicidal tendencies want to end life altogether. However, this does not mean a person with the intent to self-harm will not attempt suicide.

How often and how long are therapy sessions for self-harm?

As with any type of therapy, sessions depend on the individual. Clients may see improvement within 20 sessions, at an average of 50 minutes per session, while others may opt for 20 to 30 sessions over, maybe, a six-month period. People, especially those with co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety, may need to continue therapy for up to 12 to 18 months.