counselling services

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Self-Injury Groups:

The self-injury team runs two groups; one for young people aged 13 to 15, and another for young people aged 16 to 25. These groups happen three times a year. They run in the evening and follow an eight week programme. The group is usually attended by six to eight young people. It is run by counsellors who are trained and experienced in working with this issue.

We have completed one group for 16 to 25s this year and aim to start the next group in August or September. We have also just started a 13 to 15 group.

What do we understand about self-injury?

We see it as a way of coping with any difficulties and distress a young person maybe experiencing in their lives. A number of young people self-injure for many different reasons.

What is the group about?

	The group aims to bring young people together to share and explore their self-injury in a safe supportive environment. It also aims to enable you to gain a greater understanding of your self injury and how past experiences and feelings are linked to it.
We will also look at vulnerable times and feelings and situations that affect it. Through exploration and support the hope is to help you to increase your coping strategies and find safe alternatives.

How do I get involved? You can ring us yourself or you can ask someone to ring us on your behalf, parent, teachers, mentors, support workers or a friend. What will happen next? We will invite you in for a chat to discuss the group and check out your needs and if it fits what your looking for. If it doesn't then that is fine. If it does we will give you the date when the next group starts.

Young people's comments about the group:

"I found it helpful hearing other people's problems similar to mine and being able to talk." "The sessions where we explored our feelings were most helpful and important." "I discovered new things about myself." "I felt that being at the group made me feel happier and more understood." "After the group I now understand some of my problems." "It was good meeting new people and not feeling as isolated and alone." "It has helped me with my confidence." "I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone." To download our Self-Injury Group leaflet, click on the image on the left. To read PDF files, you need Acrobat Reader. You can download it here:

“What I found helpful was the art, expressing myself
and doing things I wouldn’t normally do.”

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