Empirically Supported Treatments and General Therapy Guidelines for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Mental health counselors are facing increased demand to treat both adolescents and adults who present with repetitive non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors, yet there are few empirically supported treatments or general treatment guidelines available. I will review the research on problem-solving and dialectical behavior therapy, two cognitive-behavioral treatments that have the most empirical support for reducing self-injurious behavior. I conclude by providing specific treatment recommendations drawn from the literature that can be of use to mental health counselors working with individuals who self-injure.