Reshaping the hidden landscape of self-harming/injury
Learn how to support a child you care about THROUGH their self-harming/injury behaviours
Developed by Lydia Sterry B.A (hons) M.A
Knowing that someone you love or deeply care about is hurting themselves can be overwhelming, frightening, or sometimes confusing. It can be hard to understand, and often your immediate reaction is to want it to ‘just stop.’ However, giving up self-harm/injury is not always that simple; it can take time for young people to learn the skills they need to stop.
There are numerous self-injury/harming methods, such as self-cutting, burning, scratching, banging heads, hitting, picking old wounds, taking an overdose, bruising, intentionally taking too little or too much medication, attempting to suffocate, pulling hair, pinching skin, piercing skin with needles or sharp objects, inserting objects under the skin... the list is endless with the various ways children may try to sabotage their bodies.
It’s important to keep in mind that most parents have no idea how to respond effectively to a child who’s hurting themselves or how to support them while they’re in the therapeutic process with their therapist.
Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to HELP them through this, and this short course specifically addresses just that.
General Course Description
This ONLINE VIDEO & POWER POINT course is designed to offer you a DEEP reflective space to learn different ways to connect past and THROUGH the child’s self-injury/harming behaviour. It involves exploring common struggles - yours and theirs, as well as understanding modern ways to work through this slice of time together with your child.
The course MODULES includes:
1. What is Self-Harm/injury? What are your reactions/responses to self-harming/injury?
2. Why do children hurt themselves? What’s their drive? What makes them vulnerable to self-harm/injury?
3. What are the signs of self-harming/injuring?
4. How could parents/care givers/family/teachers/youth workers support the child? How could they reduce the risk?
5. What could you really be doing to assist the child WHILE IN therapy? How can YOU really help during this stressful time?
It’s good to remember how self-harming/injury is a sign of distress, NOT ‘madness’ and is something that can be worked through at the child’s pace.
Educational Objectives
To explore:
What might your child need from YOU to reduce and eventually stop any self-injury/harming behaviours?
Opening up your "AWARENESS" towards self-harming/injury
Learning how to let go of reacting and moving towards exploring healthy ALTERNATIVE WAYS to respond
Exploring different angles around your child’s emotional distress
Pondering over possible concrete changes to de-escalate the child’s stress
Reflecting on ways to work through specific self-harming/injurying behaviours
Considering/reflecting over the ‘heated self-harming/injury moments’
Contemplating what the word ‘responsibility’ means as a parent/care giver/family member/teacher/youth worker.. during this time frame
Understanding answers to common questions such as:
What are the RED FLAGS? What are the obvious and not so obvious signs of self-harming/injury?
What does self-harming/injury ‘support’ look like?
How can YOU learn to be a self-harming/injury investigator?
What are some practical examples of possible things to say in the moment?
What is a self-harm/injury prevention kit?
What are the most common frequently asked questions from parents/care givers/family/teachers/youth workers?
~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Having a wealth of experience working therapeutically with self-harming/injury children and supervising others who also work in this area, I would like to share with you over 20 years of knowledge to assist you through this sometimes ‘shocking’ journey.
This course is offered as an introductory program, and it is preferred that parents/caregivers/family/teachers/youth workers use it in conjunction with the child being in therapy.
It is recommended for parents/caregivers/family/teachers/youth workers but also for others who care deeply about a specific child who is self-harming/injuring themselves.
Online Course Materials
Videos Modules:7 (including the intro & conclusion)
Slides: 39
Handout files: 5 files (14 handouts)
Approx. duration: 1 hour (including individual reading time of handouts)
Time frame to complete: 3 months
COST: $50
Add to cart to experience this UNIQUE and useful EXPLORATION around a child self-harming/injuring behaviours.