Working with Children & Young People who Self Harm

Help young people to explore and understand feelings behind self-harming behaviour. Practical and creative ideas, strategies and worksheets will help address issues underlying self-harm which are often stuck in repetitive and destructive cycles.

Self-harming behaviours have a major impact not just on the young person concerned, but also their friends – often the first people to learn of the behaviour – and family members. The most common reaction of anyone faced with a young person who self-harms is a feeling of helplessness and of
not knowing what to do. Young people self-harm for a reason – it is a reaction to something and not simply attention-seeking behaviour as many parents and professionals believe.

This user-friendly resource includes a clear exploration of some of the underlying causes of self- harming behaviours as well as common misconceptions. It takes a mindfulness and positive communication approach of ‘How I am feeling’ rather than ‘Why are you doing this?’.
While not focussing directly on the self-harming behaviour itself, this collection of practical and creative ideas, activities and worksheets will enable you to help young people to explore their image of themselves and the world around them. The activities address the feelings of fear, loneliness, lack of self-worth and negative body image underlying self-harm which are often stuck in repetitive and destructive cycles.

Some of the activities are better suited to older children or teenagers and simpler, alternate options
are provided for those working with younger children. The resources can be used in groups or on a one-to- one basis as required, and are ideal for use by therapists, teachers and parents alike.

Dr Sue Jennings was awarded the lifetime title ‘Professor of Play’ by the European Federation of Dramatherapy for her pioneering work in Dramatherapy and Neuro-Dramatic-Play (NDP). She is Honorary Professor at the University of Derby and Honorary Fellow at the University of Roehampton.
Sue is the author of a large number of books on the therapeutic use of drama, arts and play, many of which have been published in translation.