Self Harm

Self-harm refers to people deliberately hurting or mutilating their bodies without necessarily wanting to die. It often begins in the teenage years.

There are a number of reasons why your child may self-harm. It may be a way of telling other people about their distress and asking for help, a way of coping with stress or emotional pain, or a symptom of a mental illness like depression. Sometimes it suggests that they are thinking about suicide.

Many different types of behaviour can be considered self-harming, including:

• Cutting part of the body, commonly the arms, wrists, or thighs
• Taking overdoses of prescribed or illegal drugs or other substances that cause harm
• Using cigarettes or lighters to burn the skin

Other ‘risk taking’ behaviour can lead to harm, such as train surfing, driving cars at high speed, illegal drug use, or deliberately unsafe sex.

People who self-harm are usually trying to relieve, control or express their distressing feelings. Young people self-harm for different reasons, and sometimes it can be difficult to put the reasons into words.

Bright Ideas Psychology can provide you and your child for how to manage cyber bullying issues, and help for parents to understand how best to ensure their child is safe online. Talking and having session with the child is one of the best ways to manage this behaviour.

An appointment can be made to see how Bright Ideas can work with you to resolve this issue. Call 02 9957 5858 to book free 15 mins Phone Consultation or Simply fill the contact us form and we will call you.

The types of issue Bright Ideas can help children & adolescents with are :

• Low self-esteem
• Vocational counselling and coaching for enhanced performance at school
• Case conferencing/ case management with school and other therapists
• Self harm counselling
• Bright Ideas Psychology provides coaching for exam success.
• Bullying at school
• Parenting strategies/ parenting counselling
• Child or teenage behaviour problems/ behavioural therapy for children
• Ways to overcome from separation anxiety, obsessive and compulsive behaviours, traumatic stress and phobias)
• Learn creative techniques and strategies to help manage anxiety during this challenging period
• Adjustment difficulties
• Child sexual abuse counselling with a child abuse counsellor

A referral is not necessary; however clients can obtain an $81.79 rebate per session from Medicare if they obtain a Mental Health Care Plan from their Doctor. Rebates from many Health Insurers are also available.