Self-Harming Psychiatrists in 63376
Ashok Yanamadala
Psychiatrist, MD
Verified Verified
Saint Peters, MO 63376 (Online Only)
In my practice, I strive to care for patients who are seeking guidance in their path to improve their mental health. The needs of my patients vary significantly, but they share the goal of wanting to lead happy and healthy lives. People approach the problems they face in a multitude of ways, and the mission of my organization is to understand each patient’s unique starting point and work with them to get them where they want to be. I understand that no two patients can be treated exactly the same and that personal factors have to be considered to deliver quality care.
In my practice, I strive to care for patients who are seeking guidance in their path to improve their mental health. The needs of my patients vary significantly, but they share the goal of wanting to lead happy and healthy lives. People approach the problems they face in a multitude of ways, and the mission of my organization is to understand each patient’s unique starting point and work with them to get them where they want to be. I understand that no two patients can be treated exactly the same and that personal factors have to be considered to deliver quality care.
Brittania Phillips
Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-B
Verified Verified
Saint Peters, MO 63376
See more therapy options for 63376
Self-Harming Psychiatrists
How does therapy for self-harm work?
A person may turn to self-injury so that they can distract themselves from their stress, depression, anxiety, or upsetting circumstances. Therapy can address the cause of an individual’s suffering. A therapist can help a person understand why they may want to self-harm and help the person learn new methods of coping. A person may have poor emotion regulation, and treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is helpful for breaking this behaviour. In addition, treatment such as dialectical behavior therapy can help a person manage their tolerance of distress.
Which therapies are best for self-harm?
Specific approaches used by professionals include cognitive behavioral, dialectical behavior, psychodynamic, and mentalisation-based therapies, among others. Cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapies are common approaches for people who have painful thoughts and past traumas. These therapies help an individual cope with distress, regulate emotions, and manage impulsive urges.
Does the tendency to self-harm mean the person is suicidal?
Having this urge does not mean the individual suffers from suicidal ideation. People who want to self-injure look to distract or alleviate themselves from the pain they are experiencing. People with suicidal tendencies want to end life altogether. However, this does not mean a person with the intent to self-harm will not attempt suicide.
How often and how long are therapy sessions for self-harm?
As with any type of therapy, sessions depend on the individual. Clients may see improvement within 20 sessions, at an average of 50 minutes per session, while others may opt for 20 to 30 sessions over, maybe, a six-month period. People, especially those with co-occurring conditions like depression and anxiety, may need to continue therapy for up to 12 to 18 months.