Treatments for young people who self-harm

Working in an honest and open way with young people and families is always the key to success. Sharing our views and generating and agreeing collaborative management plans is likely to enable positive outcomes. By contrast, unilateral decision making and paternalistic interventions are likely to be less successful. Before any therapeutic work can take place with young people who self-harm, a trusting therapeutic relationship will need to be established in a climate of understanding and acceptance. This is part of the engagement process discussed in earlier chapters.