Self-Injury: Assessment, Comorbidity, and Treatment

Self-injury can present in varying forms and without specialized training, clinicians may not be able to effectively address the behavior and its comorbidity in therapy. Some individuals who self-harm cut or burn themselves to inflict pain while others may take more extreme actions that involve injuring bones or severely damaging other areas of their bodies. The act of self-injury is as important to address in therapy as the rituals of anticipation, planning, and secrecy that surround it. 

In this two-hour continuing education web conference, therapist and YouTube creator, Kati Morton, LMFT, returns to address the stigma of mental health and self-injury. She will discuss this often-misunderstood affective behavior beyond the diagnostic criteria for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Since the behavior is used in private and the injuries often remain hidden, Kati will address the challenges that many clinicians may experience when initiating early conversations to assess self-injury and its co-morbidity.

Self-injury has often been associated with borderline personality and attachment issues. As a certified dialectical and behavioral therapist, Kati will address why dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has been found to be the most appropriate treatment for self-injury. She will explain effective strategies using DBT’s evidence-based methodology as well as share case vignettes to provide examples of the clinical skills that she uses in her private practice. 

Kati will describe the unique physical and emotional concerns that clinicians should be aware of when treating individuals who are self-injuring. Attendees will learn self-injury specific strategies for setting boundaries, safety planning, and how to discern the behavior from suicidal ideation. Kati will also discuss ways to address relapse that include checking in without shaming and explain why she does not recommend keeping track of days without self-harming behavior. 

This intermediate level web conference is designed to help clinicians: 

1. Recognize self-injury behavior and identify diagnostic criteria.
2. Apply strategies for initiating conversations about self-injury in session.
3. Utilize evidence-based tools from DBT treatment to address self-injury.
4. Assess the suicide risk of a client who self-injures, and create a safety plan.
5. Recognize and address the potential for relapse of self-injury behaviors.

If you have any questions or concerns about this web conference, or would like more information, please contact us here.

Continuing Education (CE) Information

GoodTherapy.org is an Approved Education Provider by NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals (provider #135463). Of the eight counselor skill groups ascribed to by NAADAC, this course is classified within clinical intake and screening, clinical assessment, treatment plan, counseling services, documentation, case management, discharge and continuing care. 

GoodTherapy.org is an NBCC-Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEPTM) and may offer NBCC-approved clock hours for events that meet NBCC requirements.

GoodTherapy.org, provider #1352, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 3/30/2019 – 3/30/2022. Social workers completing this course receive 2 clinical continuing education credits.

GoodTherapy.org is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. GoodTherapy.org maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

GoodTherapy.org, SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #0395.

GoodTherapy.org, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0022 and for licensed mental health counselors #MHC-0031.

To receive CE credit hours for an archived event, you will need to complete a survey as well as a 12 or 15-question exam, verifying that you listened to or watched the event in its entirety. Archived CE events generally are considered "homestudy" by licensing boards.

Registration Information

Premium or Pro Membership with GoodTherapy includes access to this web conference at no cost. Not yet a Premium or Pro Member? Mental health professionals can attend this live web conference for $29.95 or access the homestudy recording for $14.95.

If the event is canceled by GoodTherapy, registrants who purchased the event will be notified and the charge for the event will be refunded

If you have any questions or would like information regarding disability accommodations, please contact us.

• Register NowPlease Login to Member's Area
• Not a Member?Click here for information on membership