Non-Suicidal Self Injury (NSSI): Who, Why, When, How and Options

Dr. Lisa Cohen Bennett

Training Description

This course is designed to provide strategies for those who support system involved youth who engage in Non-Suicidal Self injury (NSSI). The aim of the course is to assist adults working with system involved youth who have a severe emotional disturbance gain clarity about who self-injures, why they self-injure, and myths associated with self-injury.

Learning Objectives

1. Participants will be able to identify at least 2 groups of non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors.

2. Participants will be able to identify at least 2 main populations affected.

3. Participants will be able to explain at least 2 reasons system involved youth may participate in non-suicidal self-injury.

Agenda 

9:30-10:00am  Introduction and Review of Severe Emotional Disturbance

Welcome & Introduction of instructor, students/class objectives

Overview: Severe Emotional Disturbance Template:

· Trauma along Development Stages

· Trauma along Separation and Attachment Milestones

· Trauma connected with Losses

· External Stressors for Families of Origin

· How Differences Affect Emotional Disturbance

· The Abuse Spectrum

· Socio-Cultural Oppression

· Bio/Neuro/Physio Affects

10:00-10:30am  Discuss Personal Coping Strategies

Self Study

10:30-11:00am  Revisit SED template with feelings and behaviors

1) Developmental Stages

· Separation and Attachment Milestones

· Losses

· External Stressors

· Differences

· The Abuse Spectrum

2) Discuss feelings associated with above SED template (e.g., confusion, anger, sadness, abandonment, self-hatred, etc.)

3) Discuss behaviors stemming from trauma and feelings (e.g., other harm or self-harm)

4) Examine why this continuum occurs (e.g., distraction of self and others from early trauma)

11:00-11:30am List possible non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors (NSSI)

· Substance Abuse

· Poisoning

· Running Away

· Prostitution

· Eating disorders

· Self-Mutilation: Cutting, Burning, Choking, Biting, Skin picking, Branding, Hair pulling

11:30am-12pm Classifications

12:00-12:30pm  Who, why and myths

12:30-1:00pm  LUNCH (CE hours will not be offered for this time)

1:00-1:30pm  Movie clip and discussion

1:30-2:30pm  Testimonials

In small groups, discuss testimonials from people who self- injure looking for who, why, how, impact, response from medical and therapy communities

2:30-3:00pm  Movie clip and discussion

3:00-4:00pm  Strategies to address NSSI

4:00-4:30pm  Case Examples

Meet Our Trainer

DR. BENNETT has been training Foster Parents, Probation Officers, Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Teachers and Group Home Staff around the country and in the San Francisco Bay Area for twenty years. She has worked in a variety of settings with Severely Emotionally Disturbed Youth and Families including Residential Treatment, Hospital, Juvenile Hall, Runaway Shelter and County Mental Health for over thirty years. Dr. Bennett also currently has a private practice in Lafayette, CA where she specializes in trauma.

This course meets the qualifications for (6) BBS CE Hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.