Treatment for Self-Injury in Utah

Learn more about self-harm treatment at our hospital in Salt Lake City

Self-injury, also referred to as self-harm or self-mutilation, is defined as an act that is done to intentionally cause harm to one’s own body. Individuals who self-harm don’t know any other way of coping with feelings such as sadness, emptiness, guilt, and anger. The relief that accompanies self-injury doesn’t last very long and while it may temporarily mask feelings, it doesn’t fix the underlying emotional issues that have led the individual to start engaging in self-mutilation in the first place.

Highland Ridge Hospital, located in Salt Lake City, has helped countless teens, adults, and older adults who have struggled with self-mutilating behaviors. Our compassionate team of mental health professionals at our treatment center understands the pain that you are experiencing and how scary it may be to take the first step into treatment. Highland Ridge Hospital is here to help. Recovery from self-injury is possible as you learn more adaptive and healthy coping mechanisms while at our treatment center.

Helping a loved one or family member get treatment for self-harm

If your loved one has been engaging in self-harm behaviors, you are probably experiencing a multitude of emotions. It can be extremely shocking when you discover what your loved one has been doing to themselves. You may have realized that your loved one needs help from a professional treatment center or hospital, but you may be unsure of how to approach the situation. While you may be worried about making the situation worse, you should absolutely say something. Here are some things to keep in mind when approaching someone about the need for treatment for self-harm.

Educate yourself: Take the time to learn about self-harm and why someone may engage in that type of behavior. Reach out to a therapist that can help you better understand this mental illness so that you will be able to know more about what your loved one is going through.

Say something: When you have taken the time to educate yourself about self-harm, make the time to express to your loved on that you are worried about them and that you care about them. Say something like, “I’ve been concerned about you.” This can allow your loved one the chance to talk openly about what he or she has been feeling. When they do talk to you about their self-harm, make sure that you are truly listening to what they are saying. Don’t judge them and don’t dismiss any feelings they may be experiencing.

Offer help: If your loved one decides to seek help from a treatment recovery center or hospital, offer to be there for them throughout the whole process. Offer to make appointments and go with them to speak to the doctors. Go check out treatment centers or hospitals with them and assist in the decision making process. Finally, reassure your loved one that you will be beside them throughout treatment and afterward.

Why seek help for self-harm

Those who engage in self-harm know that relief achieved from these behaviors doesn’t last long and often causes an individual to feel a great deal of shame and guilt. It is a temporary fix to a much bigger problem. Constantly trying to keep this self-injurious behavior a secret can cause you to have difficulties within your social relationships and may leave you feeling lonely and trapped. Additionally, constantly hurting yourself can lead to a number of negative health consequences.

An inpatient treatment center or hospital that is skilled at treating individuals who engage in self-harm is one of the most effective treatment options. Inpatient care allows you to escape the problems and worries of your daily life and truly focus on your recovery. Additionally, an inpatient center will allow you to recover while keeping you safe and free from harm. In an inpatient treatment program at a hospital or treatment center, you will be involved in a number of different treatment techniques, such as individual, group, and family therapy, all designed to help get to the root of the development of your self-harm.

Our philosophy & benefits of self-harm treatment

Highland Ridge Hospital sees every teen, adult, and older adult who comes to us for help as a unique individual who requires compassionate, individualized care. Each patient at our treatment center is seen as a whole person beyond a constellation of symptoms. We aim to be a safe haven of treatment and recovery for people who struggle with mental health disorders and self-harming behaviors. Our treatment center’s staff is well versed in our core values: care, compassion, concern, and competence. You will see our dedication in every interaction we have with you.

Self-harm treatment options available at Highland Ridge Hospital

When you first come to Highland Ridge Hospital, we will take the time to sit down with you and completely evaluate your current situation so that we can determine exactly what you need from us. Our medical evaluation will allow us to gain greater insight into any medical problems you may be struggling with, while the psychological evaluation will determine the severity of your self-harm behavior and discover the presence of any undiagnosed co-occurring mental disorders. Once all evaluations are complete, we will sit down with you and design a plan of care for your stay with us at our treatment center.

Medication may be used at the beginning of your stay at Highland Ridge Hospital to gain control over any unpleasant symptoms you may be experiencing. After learning more appropriate coping skills, many people are able to slowly taper down their medication. However, some people may be placed on long-term medication management to address any co-occurring mental health concerns.

Individual therapy is a wonderful way for a counselor to help you identify the negative thoughts that are causing you to injure yourself. In individual sessions at our treatment center, you’ll spend private time with a therapist, away from the rest of the residents, where you will work on identifying self-harm triggers and ways in which you can better cope.

Group therapy is a great way for people who engage in self-harm behaviors to work with others who are facing similar struggles so that you all can learn, grow, and heal from one another. We offer a variety of group therapy types at our treatment center, including process groups to allow you the time to work through your emotions and psychoeducational groups to educate you about various topics. Topics for group will vary session by session and may include anger management, stress reduction, and coping skills.

Family therapy is very important for people who are struggling with self-harm and surrounding emotions. During family sessions at Highland Ridge Hospital, we allow your loved ones to express their emotions in a safe, supportive environment. We will also take the time to teach your family members ways in which they can support you during your recovery.

In addition to traditional therapeutic techniques, we also offer a wide array of experiential treatments to compliment your therapy at Highland Ridge Hospital. These may include:

• Art therapy
• Pet therapy
• Recreation therapy
• Yoga
• Music
• Leisure time
• Meditation
• Craft time
• Movie nights
• Wii games
• Gym & exercise time
• Puzzles, cards, and board games

Continuing care at Highland Ridge

As your time with us at Highland Ridge Hospital draws to a close, you will work with your therapist to make sure that a plan is put in place for your continued care. Some of our patients decide that they still need the structure of an inpatient program and may decide to enter a residential treatment program. Others may feel they’ve made enough progress in our program to step down into a structured partial hospitalization program (PHP) or intensive outpatient program (IOP). Still others may find that they’ve made enough progress in our program that they’re able to discharge to home with referrals to traditional outpatient therapy. Whatever your next step may be, the staff at Highland Ridge Hospital will do what they can to make sure you are fully prepared for your next treatment phase.

Our location in Midvale, Utah, allows residents of the greater SLC area to get help with alcohol-related health issues. Call one of our admissions counselors today for a free, confidential screening to see how Highland Ridge Hospital can help you regain a happy, healthy life.