Self-harm treatment and support in the South East of England
Get the help you need by contacting Priory today.
Get help for self-harm at Priory
People may self-harm as a way of temporarily relieving tension or frustration, in response to feelings of depression or other difficult emotions. Without help for your self-harming, this can become more severe over time and the risk that you pose to yourself can increase. It's therefore important to reach out for help at the earliest opportunity.
At Priory, we understand that self-harm can be very difficult to cope with and can be very distressing. This is why we're committed to delivering flexible treatment for self-harm within our nationwide network of hospitals and wellbeing centres, helping you to get back on track.
Self-harm support near you
Our Priory sites in the South East of England specialise in treating self-harm, helping you to get your life back on track. We deliver lots of different types of therapies, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This is a form of counselling, or 'talking therapy', that can help you to manage your challenges by changing the way you think and behave.
We provide outpatient therapy at Priory Wellbeing Centre Canterbury, and residential treatment at our hospitals. Our leading UK self-harm treatment specialists are committed to providing expert treatment, helping you to make a strong recovery.
You can overcome self-harming
You really don't have to struggle with self-harm. When you receive treatment with us, you'll benefit from:
- Expert counselling and advice on coping techniques, delivered by a Priory specialist
- Therapy sessions to suit your work and commitments
- Complete discretion and confidentiality
- A recommended treatment programme, based on your individual needs
- Access to extensive experience providing the highest quality mental healthcare
Effective treatment can help you to learn ways to cope with underlying feelings that may be contributing towards your self-harm, and help you to achieve positive mental wellbeing. If you feel like self-harming has taken over your life, you can rest assured that our experienced mental health consultants, counsellors and therapists can help you resolve the factors contributing to how you feel.
Further information
What causes self-harm?
If you’re struggling with self-harm, it’s likely that you want to understand why you’re feeling the way you do. Research shows that overwhelming emotional issues that can affect you at any stage of life are a major factor behind self-harm, as a means of coping and releasing built-up tension or frustration.
These emotional difficulties may be caused by a number of influencing factors, including:
- Social and relationship problems
- Trauma or abuse
- Psychological or existing mental health challenges
Signs and symptoms of self-harm
Physical signs of self-harm can often be apparent in the form of cuts, which can form scars, and burns on parts of the body such as a person’s wrists, arms, thighs and chest. However, the underlying emotional issues causing this behaviour are less clear.
For people who actively self-harm, there will often be mental health problems such as stress, anxiety or depression, which reach intolerable levels of discomfort. These issues may have lasted for some time before self-harming.
Physical signs
Physical and behavioural signs of self-harm can include:
- Cuts, bruises or burns which can’t be explained by other injuries, usually found on the wrists or arms
- Wearing coats, scarves and other warm clothing that covers the skin, even in situations where this may seem inappropriate, including hot weather or being indoors
- Visible signs of hair pulling
- Becoming withdrawn and not speaking to others
Emotional signs
Emotional signs of self-harm can include:
- Signs of low self-esteem and proclamations of not being good enough
- General feelings of self-loathing and expressing a wish to punish themselves
- Low mood and lack of interest or motivation relating to symptoms of depression
- Talk of not wanting to carry on and suicidal thoughts
How Priory treats self-harm
For many people, self-harm can have a negative impact on all areas of their life. However, self-harm is treatable and it’s possible for you to take steps towards recovery and wellbeing. At Priory, we can provide you with tailored self-harm therapy, treatment and counselling.
Treatment for self-harm can take place either as an outpatient, inpatient, or as part of our day care programme. We also offer online therapy for self-harm. You will be able to discuss which option is best for you with one of our specialists.
There are lots of different types of counselling for self-harm, including:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for self-harm
- Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) for self-harm
- Psychodynamic therapy for self-harm
- 1:1 therapy for self-harm
- Group therapy for self-harm
- Family therapy for self-harm
Outpatient treatment for self-harm
During outpatient treatment for self-harm, you will come to one of our hospitals or wellbeing centres for a set number of hourly sessions with a consultant or therapist. These usually happen on a weekly basis.
This type of treatment is useful if you don’t need more intensive treatment for your self-harm and it also means you can attend flexible appointments at a time and a place that’s convenient for you. You can start outpatient therapy straightaway or this can be used as a step-down from more intensive treatment, if needed.
Inpatient treatment for self-harm
During inpatient treatment, you’ll stay at one of our hospitals on a residential basis and receive intensive treatment for your self-harm.
This type of treatment is helpful when it comes to treating more severe cases of self-harm. This is because it gives you the chance to spend some time away from your day-to-day life in order to remove any negative influences that may be making your condition worse. It’s also very structured and provides round-the-clock care, helping you to get well.
The thought of coming into hospital can be daunting at first. However, this type of treatment can have a positive impact on your quality of life and help you to get back on track. It means you have the time, care and attention you need to fully address your problems and take steps towards a healthy future.
Day care for self-harm
You can also receive self-harm treatment as part of our day care programme. During day care, you will come to one of our Priory sites for a certain number of days each week, where you will take part in therapy.
However, unlike inpatient treatment, you won’t stay at the hospital overnight but will go home following a day of treatment. Day care can be used as a step-down from inpatient treatment or a step-up from outpatient treatment, if needed.
Day care is useful if you don’t need 24-hour support for your self-harm, but still need some level of structured care.
Online therapy for self-harm
We also provide online therapy for self-harm, meaning you can access the support you need from the comfort of your own home and at a time that's convenient for you.
Priory services in your region
Our sites across the UK provide specialist treatment for a range of mental health conditions. Our regional locations include:
