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Contact Us Home / About / Contact Us Get in touch Please note that this contact form is for general inquiries only. While we offer information and resources about self-injury, ISSS is unable to provide crisis support, clinical services, or treatment. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or needs urgent help, please contact local emergency mental health services in your area. You can find a list of suggested services at https://www.helpguide.org/find-help First Name Last Name Email What is your message about? * Required Membership Conference Advocacy Research Clinical Publication Other Message Subscribe to the newsletter Send Sent! We'll be in touch soon :)

Jennifer Hughes, PhD, MPH, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, describes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as an intervention for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm. Season 1 | Episode 19 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 19 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Self-Harm Nov 5, 2021 with Dr. Jenny Hughes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for Self-Harm with Dr. Jenny Hughes 00:00 / 01:04 Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) has been lauded as an evidence-based treatment for addressing suicidal and nonsuicidal thoughts and behaviors. In this episode, Dr. Jenny Hughes explains what DBT is, describes what "dialectical" means, and walks us through how each of the four modules of DBT can be used to address nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm: (1) Emotion Regulation, (2) Distress Tolerance, (3) Interpersonal Effectiveness, and (4) Mindfulness. She also provides an update on the science behind DBT, including what aspects of the treatment are thought to be most effective in addressing self-injury. To learn more about DBT and opportunities for training in DBT as referenced in this episode, visit Behavioral Tech at https://behavioraltech.org/ . Learn more about Dr. Hughes' work at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center here , and follow her on Twitter at @DrJennyHughes . Watch her 2018 TEDx talk on Resilience: Growth Through Struggle at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr44v2__zrU . Below are links to some of her research on DBT among youth: Editorial: Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the Function of Self-Injury (2021) (1) Efficacy of dialectical behavior therapy for adolescents at high risk for suicide: a randomized clinical trial (2018) (2) Predictors and moderators of recurring self-harm in adolescents participating in a comparative treatment trial of psychological interventions (2019) (3) Dialectical Behavior Therapy for Suicidal Self-Harming Youth: Emotion Regulation, Mechanisms, and Mediators (2021). Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Top 15 Clinical Psychology Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts of 2021 ." Previous Next

About Self-Injury Recovery and Ambivalence Resources / About Self-Injury / Recovery and Ambivalence "A non-linear push and pull" Recovery Recovery for self-injury can mean different things to different people. In recent years, there has been a greater focus both academically and clinically on the lived experience of self-injury. Part of this focus has drawn attention to the varied conceptualisations of recovery. Clinical conceptualisations According to the proposed diagnostic criteria for non-suicidal self-injury disorder (NSSI-D), an individual may be considered "recovered" after self-injury has been ceased for 12 months. As identified by Lewis and Hasking (2020), this may be unrealistic and does not reflect individuals' lived experience of recovery. Lived experience conceptualisations Not surprisingly, individuals' conceptualisations of NSSI recovery are vast and varied. Theoretical conceptualisations Recent developments in the research field have led to new theoretical conceptualisations of NSSI recovery, including that proposed by Lewis and Hasking (2021). Sourced from Lewis & Hasking (2021) In their framework, Lewis and Hasking capture the following in their person-centred model of self-injury recovery: Emphasis realistic expectations Recovery is non-linear and "relapses" are common Viewing recovery in absolute terms may be unrealistic and unhelpful Normalise thoughts and urges Continued thoughts about self-injury and urges to self-injure are common. These thoughts and urges may persist indefinitely Foster self-efficacy Recognition of times when urges have been overcome can strengthen self-efficacy to resist NSSI in the future Identify strengths Identifying and leveraging strengths can foster self-efficacy and support other coping strategies Find alternatives Finding strategies as effective as NSSI takes time and involves trial and error There is no one-size-fits all, and alternative strategies that work for one individual may not work for another Address underlying adversities There are many possible difficulties and adversities underlying self-injury; these need to be addressed to support NSSI recovery Address and accept scarring While not relevant to all individuals, scarring can be a significant concern Scarring may contribute to ongoing psychological distress/urges, but can also represent strength and resilience For individuals with scars, accepting scarring may be particularly important in their recovery Prepare for navigating disclosures Disclosure may be voluntary, unwanted, or unintentional Disclosure may be necessary to recovery (accessing support) Considering how to navigate these disclosures may be useful for recovery Foster self-acceptance Through the above, self-acceptance can be fostered Ambivalence Understanding ambivalence around self-injury and recovery is important for individuals who self-injure and their loved ones. References Lewis, L. P., & Hasking, P. A. (2020). Rethinking self-injury recovery: A comentary and conceptual reframing, BJ Psych Bulletin , 44 , 44-46. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjb.2019.51 Lewis, S. P., & Hasking, P. A. (2021). Self-injury recovery: A person-centred framework. Journal of Clinical Psychology , 77 , 884-895. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.23094

ISSS Invited Fellows Home /Awards / Invited Fellows Celebrating Excellence Invited Fellows of ISSS are esteemed members who have made outstanding contributions to the field. Through their research, clinical, and/or advocacy work, ISSS Fellows have advanced science and improved the lives of people with lived experience. 2026 Invited Fellows To be announced To be announced 2025 Dr. Stephen P. Lewis Dr. Lewis is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Guelph. Read more 2025 Dr. Penelope A. Hasking Dr. Hasking is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Curtin University. Read more 2024 Dr. Jason J. Washburn Dr. Washburn is a Professor and the Chief of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University. Read more 2024 Dr. Kim L. Gratz Dr. Gratz is a writer, clinician, and an affiliated faculty member at the University of Toledo. Read more 2023 Dr. Nancy L. Heath Dr. Heath is a Professor at McGill University in the Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology. Read more 2023 Dr. Laurence Claes Dr. Claes is a Professor at Ku Leuven in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences. Read more 2022 Dr. Janis L. Whitlock Dr. Whitlock is a developmental psychologist and public health specialist specializing in the mental health of adolescents and young people. Read more 2022 Dr. Paul L. Plener Dr. Plener is a Professor at the Medical University of Vienna where he is Head of the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Read more 2021 Dr. Barent W. Walsh Dr. Walsh is a Clinical Social Worker and author. Read more 2021 Dr. Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp Dr. Muehlenkamp is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire. Read more

Nicholas J. Westers, Psy.D., ABPP from Children's Health and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas provides practical tips and considerations for supporting individuals who engage in self-injury and self-harm. Season 4 | Episode 51 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 51 Tips for Supporting Those Who Self-Harm Jul 26, 2024 with Dr. Nicholas Westers Tips for Supporting Those Who Self-Harm with Dr. Nicholas Westers 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, host and producer of The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast, Dr. Nicholas Westers, shares his own thoughts about what we should consider when supporting friends, families, clients, and patients who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). This marks the first solo episode of the podcast, and Dr. Westers offers ways for listeners to have a bigger role on the podcast, including: Should you or someone you know be interviewed on the podcast? We want to know! Please fill out this Google doc form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit. Want to hear your question and have it answered on the podcast? Please send an audio clip of your question (60 seconds or less) to @DocWesters on Instagram or Twitter/X, or email us at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com Want to be involved in research? Send us a message at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com and we will see if we can match you to an active study. Want to interact with us through comments and polls? You can on Spotify! Below are a couple papers related to this episode with Dr. Westers: Westers, N. J., Rehfuss, M., Olson, L., & Biron, D. (2012). The role of forgiveness in adolescents who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury . The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200 (6), 535-541. Westers, N. J. , & Tinsley, B. (2023). Nonsuicidal self-injury risk assessment, intervention, and guidance for first responders and medical settings . In E. E. Lloyd-Richardson, I. Baetens, & J. Whitlock (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of nonsuicidal self-injury (pp. 873–893). Oxford University Press. Previous Next

Sylvanna Mirichlis, PhD, and Stephen Lewis, PhD, talk all things Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD). We also share some of our favorite clips from past episodes for those new to the topic of self-harm. Season 5 | Episode 58 Podcast/ Season 5 | Episode 58 Self-Injury Awareness Day (March 1) Feb 28, 2025 with Drs. Sylvanna Mirichlis & Stephen Lewis Self-Injury Awareness Day (March 1) with Drs. Sylvanna Mirichlis & Stephen Lewis 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Dr. Sylvanna Mirichlis from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and ISSS Past President Dr. Stephen Lewis from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada share about the origins of the annual March 1st Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD), what people around the world are doing as part of this day, and what our ISSS Stigma, Recovery, and Lived Experience Special Interest Group is doing to boost awareness of self-injury. We also share some of our favorite clips from past episodes. Self-Injury Resources: International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) ( https://itriples.org/ Self-injury Outreach & Support (SiOS) ( http://sioutreach.org/ ) Cornell's Self-Injury & Recovery Resources (SIRR) ( www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu ) Shedding Light on Self-Injury ( https://www.self-injury.org.au/ ) Lewis, S. P., & Hasking, P. A. (2023). Understanding self-injury: A person-centered approach . Oxford University Press. To watch Dr. Lewis' TEDx talk about his own lived experience of self-injury on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/G17iMOw0ar8 . Timestamps for clips from past episodes: 37:37 - Lived experience: Kirsty's story of self-injury & advocacy (Season 2, Episode 30) 43:41 - Psychologists with lived experience of self-injury, with Dr. Sarah Victor (Season 1, Episode 9) 45:25 - Self-injury stigma and language, with Dr. Penelope Hasking (Season 1, Episode 4) 48:26 - Lived experience: Thomas' story of self-injury & gender dysphoria (Season 4, Episode 48) 52:48 - Self-harm across cultures, with Dr. Marc Wilson (Season 2, Episode 24) 56:39 - The psychology of self-injury scarring, with Dr. Taylor Burke (Season 2, Episode 31) 1:01:52 - A dad & daughter discuss her lived experience of self-harm (Season 3, Episode 37) 1:15:15 - Parenting youth who self-injure, with Dr. Janis Whitlock (Season 1, Episode 3) 1:23:49 - Supporting siblings of individuals who self-harm, with Dr. Amy Lucas (Season 4, Episode 46) Previous Next

Brooke Ammerman, PhD, and Greg Lengel, PhD, define nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and self-harm. Season 3 | Episode 44 Podcast/ Season 3 | Episode 44 How Should Self-Harm Be Defined? Dec 29, 2023 with Drs. Brooke Ammerman & Greg Lengel How Should Self-Harm Be Defined? with Drs. Brooke Ammerman & Greg Lengel 00:00 / 01:04 What exactly constitutes nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)? Dr. Brooke Ammerman from the University of Notre Dame and Dr. Greg Lengel from Drake University discuss the complexities of defining NSSI. They also describe the difference between deliberate self-harm and NSSI and share their research about what many clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience tell them about what they think constitutes NSSI and how we should define it. Learn more about Dr. Ammerman and her work in the Affect, Suicide, Self-Injury, and Social Triggers (ASSIST) Lab at https://assistlab.nd.edu/ . Listen to her interview from Season 1 ("Disclosures of Self-Injury") here . Learn more about Dr. Lengel at his faculty profile at Drake University here . Follow them on Twitter/X at @brooke_ammerman and @DrGregLengel . Below are links to some of the papers discussed in this episode: Lengel, G. J., Ammerman, B. A., & Washburn, J. J. (2022). Clarifying the definition of nonsuicidal self-injury: Clinician and researcher perspectives . Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 43 (2), 119–126. Ammerman, B. A., Lengel, G. J., & Washburn, J. J. (2021). Consideration of clinician and researcher opinions on the parameters of nonsuicidal self-injury disorder diagnostic criteria . Psychiatry Research, 296 , 113642. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter/X (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #1 by Feedspot in their list of " 10 Best Self Harm Podcasts " and #5 in their " 20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts ." It has also been featured in Audible's " Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal ." If you or someone you know should be interviewed on the podcast, we want to know! Please fill out this form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit. Previous Next

2023 - 2024 Home / Collaborative Research Program / NSSI and other coping... Examining predictors of co-occurrence of NSSI with other potentially harmful coping behaviours Mentor/s: Briana Turner 2023 - 2024 Project Overview We collected prospective, monthly surveys from two cohorts of first year university students (n=704). A core aim of this study was to examine trajectories and co-occurrence of potentially harmful coping behaviours, including NSSI, during students’ first year of university. We administered a broad range of personality measures at baseline, in September (e.g., Ten Item Personality Inventory, BIS/BAS, Sensitivity to punishment and sensitivity to reward, UPPS-P impulsivity, DERS) as well as behavioral measures of decision-making. Subsequently, we collected information about participants’ mood, wellbeing, and engagement in various potentially harmful coping behaviours, namely NSSI, disordered eating, substance misuse, physical aggression, and financial risk-taking (compulsive shopping, gambling). Over the upcoming year, I intend to analyze co-occurrence of these behaviors over the year, as well as personality and behavioral predictors of distinct profiles of coping behaviors. I would welcome junior researchers to be involved in this project to refine skills in longitudinal data analysis. Application Deadline: June 11 2023 Apply Now Previous Next

Wendy Lader, PhD, author of "Bodily Harm: the Breakthrough Healing Program for Self-Injurers" and Co-Founder and retired Clinical Director of the S.A.F.E. Alternatives Program in St. Louis, MO, describes how the treatment for self-injury and self-harm has evolved over the years. Season 2 | Episode 32 Podcast/ Season 2 | Episode 32 The Evolution of Self-Injury Treatment Dec 30, 2022 with Dr. Wendy Lader The Evolution of Self-Injury Treatment with Dr. Wendy Lader 00:00 / 01:04 In 1986, the first treatment program in the United States specifically for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) opened its doors. Self Abuse Finally Ends, better known as S.A.F.E. Alternatives, was a 30-day inpatient program for the treatment of self-injury and self-harm. In this episode, Dr. Wendy Lader, the Co-Founder and retired Clinical Director of S.A.F.E. Alternatives talks about what treatment looked like back then and how treatment has evolved over time. Learn more about Dr. Lader on her website www.drlader.com , and find her book Bodily Harm: the Breakthrough Healing Program for Self-Injurers on Amazon here . To learn more about S.A.F.E. Alternatives, visit selfinjury.com or call 1-800-DONTCUT (1-800-366-8288). If you are seeking treatment options with them, let them know you heard about the program on The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast with Dr. Lader. Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Best 20 Clinical Psychology Podcasts " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts ." Previous Next

Christina Robillard, M.Sc., from the University of Victoria in Canada explains the relationship between self-criticism and self-injury as well as other self-harm behaviors like disordered eating. Season 4 | Episode 49 Podcast/ Season 4 | Episode 49 Self-Criticism as a Predictor of Self-Injury May 31, 2024 with Christina Robillard Self-Criticism as a Predictor of Self-Injury with Christina Robillard 00:00 / 01:04 In this episode, Christina Robillard talks about how self-criticism can lead to increases in self-injury urges within the next two hours as well as the relationship between self-criticism and disordered eating. She explains how she and her team use ecological momentary assessment (EMA; see Season 1, Episode 11 with Dr. Glenn Kiekens) to assess self-criticism in real time. Connect with Christina on LinkedIn here . See Christina's academic page at the University of Victoria here and her Google Scholar page here . Below are links to some of her papers as well as one about self-criticism and pain: Robillard, C. L., Merrin, G. J., Legg, N. K., Ames, M. E., & Turner, B. J. (2024). Different self-damaging behaviours, similar motives? Testing measurement invariance of motives for nonsuicidal self-injury, disordered eating and substance misuse . British Journal of Clinical Psychology . Advance online publication. Robillard, C. L., Legg, N. K., Ames, M. E., & Turner, B. J. (2022). Support for a transdiagnostic motivational model of self-damaging behaviors: Comparing the salience of motives for binge drinking, disordered eating, and nonsuicidal self-injury . Behavior Therapy, 53 (6), 1219-1232. Robillard, C. L., Chapman, A. L., & Turner, B. J. (2022). Learning from experience: Within- and between-person associations of the consequences, frequency, and versatility of nonsuicidal self-injury . Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 52 (5), 836-847. Robillard, C. L., Turner, B. J., Ames, M. E., & Craig, S. G. (2021). Deliberate self-harm in adolescents during COVID-19: The roles of pandemic-related stress, emotion regulation difficulties, and social distancing . Psychiatry Research, 304 , 114152. Fox, K. R., O'Sullivan, I. M., Wang, S. B., & Hooley, J. M. (2019). Self-criticism impacts emotional responses to pain . Behavior Therapy, 50 (2), 410-420. Previous Next

About Self-Injury What is Self-Injury? Resources / About Self-Injury / What is Self-Injury? "A distinct behaviour" Self-injury is a common yet poorly understand behaviour. Educating ourselves about self-injury starts with being specific about what we mean when we talk about it. There are several key elements to our definition: The harm is intentional or expected Risky behaviors that could result in harm, such as not wearing a seatbelt while driving, or behaviors that can result in accidental harm, such as playing extreme sports, are typically excluded under our definition. The injury results in immediate physical injury Behaviors that do not directly result in physical injury are typically excluded under our definition, even though they may be harmful or dangerous. For instance, food restriction is typically not considered a form of NSSI since the associated physical damage tends to build up over time, instead of happening as soon as the behavior occurs. Is not intended to cause death While suicidal thoughts may be present when someone self-injures, the self-injury itself is not intended to cause death. Some people may use self-injury to manage suicidal urges or intense distress related to suicidal thoughts. Self-injury enacted with suicidal intent is not classified as NSSI. Is not part of social or cultural practices Behaviors that might cause physical damage but are acceptable in our society, or part of a recognized cultural, spiritual or religious ritual, are not considered self-injury. Behaviors such as body modification, body piercing, tattooing, and religious self-flagellation are not usually considered forms of self-injury. A note on terminology The term "NSSI" is often used interchangeably with self-injury - we do so throughout this site; however, it is important to bear in mind that someone may use the term 'self-injury' and be referring to suicidal behaviour. Likewise, while we do not use the term self-harm on this site, many people, including researchers, clinicians, and individuals with lived experience, use this term to refer to NSSI. Regardless of the source, it is important to always ascertain whether the term is being used to refer to suicidal or non-suicidal behaviours. There are some other terms used throughout the field that may or may not refer to NSSI. Self-harm Often, when people think of 'self-harm', what comes to mind is NSSI. However, self-harm is an umbrella term that captures all self-directed injury regardless of intent. In some conceptualisations, self-harm includes indirect injury, such as that caused by reckless behaviours, or psychological injury, such as that caused by self-criticism. While NSSI falls under the self-harm umbrella, ISSS distinguishes NSSI from other behaviors due to the aetiological, functional, and predictive factors that are unique to NSSI. Deliberate self-harm Deliberate self-harm is a term usually used to refer to non-suicidal self-injury; however, it may also encompass any self-inflicted injury, regardless of intent. Determining what is meant when this term is used is important. Self-cutting NSSI is sometimes referred to by focusing on particular methods (e.g., self-cutting). While cutting is among the most widely recognized forms of self-injury, the behavior can take many other forms, including burning, hitting, or scratching. Furthermore, many people who self-injure report using more than method during their lives. Therefore, we recommend avoiding this term when referring to self-injury more broadly, as it dismisses the experiences of many people. Parasuicide, self-mutilation These terms are no longer used in contemporary research and practice, but are occasionally still seen in news media. The term 'parasuicide' links injury to suicide, creating an assumption that self-injury is a suicide attempt. As we know, this is not always that case. The term 'self-mutilation' is stigmatising and harmful, characterising an individual's injury as negative due to its appearance and conjuring judgement and fear (Hasking & Boyes, 2018; Hasking et al., 2019). References Hasking, P., & Boyes, M. (2018). Cutting words: A commentary on language and stigma in the context of nonsuicidal self-injury. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease , 206 , 829-833. https://doi.org/10.1097/nmd.0000000000000899 Hasking, P., Lewis, S. P., & Boyes, M. E. (2019). When language is maladaptive: Recommendations for discussing self-injury. Journal of Public Mental Health , 18 , 148-152. https://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-01-2019-0014 Klonsky, E. D., Victor, S. E., & Saffer, B. Y. (2014). Nonsuicidal self-injury: What we know, and what we need to know. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry , 59 , 565-568. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F070674371405901101

Jessica Garisch, PhD, from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, gives a sneak peek into how she addresses self-injury and self-harm in therapy sessions with youth and their parents. Season 1 | Episode 16 Podcast/ Season 1 | Episode 16 If Your Child is in Therapy for Self-Injury Aug 6, 2021 with Dr. Jessica Garisch If Your Child is in Therapy for Self-Injury with Dr. Jessica Garisch 00:00 / 01:04 Many parents understandably want their child to stop self-injuring immediately, but cessation of self-injury is often a process and recurrence of episodes of self-injury can be expected, even when in therapy. In this episode, Dr. Jessica Garisch provides insight for parents about expectations for therapy and helping their child stop engaging in self-injury and self-harm. For instance, what do you do if your child does not seem to be putting forth effort in therapy? And if you are worried that your child may not be safe enough to go to camp or on vacation, should you keep them home? To learn more about Dr. Garisch and her work at Victoria University of Wellington, visit https://people.wgtn.ac.nz/jessica.garisch . To learn more about the Youth Wellbeing Study and its research team, visit https://youthwellbeingstudy.wordpress.com / . Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS). The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated #5 by Feedspot in their " Top 15 Clinical Psychology Podcasts You Must Follow in 2021 " and by Welp Magazine in their " 20 Best Injury Podcasts of 2021 ." Previous Next