Understanding the experiences of middle school girls who have received help for non-suicidal self-injury

This study aimed to understand the experiences of middle school girls who have engaged in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and have received professional help for these behaviors. Participants described engaging in NSSI in response to uncomfortable feelings and invasive negative thoughts. They reported that engaging in NSSI decreased their uncomfortable feelings. While each participant had at least one person in her life who knew about her NSSI, participants did not feel supported or validated by these people. Participants were not completely honest with their therapists because they were afraid of being misunderstood, dismissed, or getting others into trouble. Despite these things, participants wanted support and understanding about who they are as unique individuals, why they are struggling, and why they self-injure. They also wanted to be in a transparent therapeutic relationship where they felt respected and accepted. Unfortunately, they did not describe relationships with their therapists as possessing these qualities. Professionals would better meet the need of adolescents by clearly discussing confidentiality, boundaries, conveying respect and acceptance, and recognizing the uniqueness of their clients. Assessing for self-harm and treatment reluctance should be done in the context of resistance to therapy and a sensitivity to judgment.