Some of the reasons people turn to self-injurious behaviours are as a way of expressing the pain they are feeling inside or due to feeling a lack of control. The numbers of young people being admitted to hospital having intentionally hurt themselves has doubled over the last 8 years, although the true numbers may never be known as not all those who do self-injure will seek treatment. Counselling can offer someone to talk to when you are feeling isolated. You may not have told anyone else about your self-injury and may feel that it’s time to share that burden.

You may or may not know what your triggers are and as your counsellor I can be there as you work that out. Taking that first step and telling someone for the first time can be scary. You may fear being judged or be scared of the reaction you will receive, but counselling is non-judgemental and offers a safe space to explore your feelings and your need to self-injure. This offers you space to think about recovery and how that may look for you and gives you the time to take things one day at a time.