The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health

Psychologists with Lived Experience of Self-Injury, with Dr. Sarah Victor

Episode Summary

Sarah Victor, PhD, from Texas Tech University discusses the prevalence of self-injury among psychologists and psychology graduate students, how psychologists with and without lived experience of self-injury can appropriately provide therapy to clients and supervision to trainees with a history of self-injury, and how individuals with lived experience of self-injury can be involved in teaching and research on self-injury and self-harm.

Episode Notes

How many psychologists have lived experience of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI)? What biases should mental health professionals with and without a history of self-injury keep in mind when treating or supervising someone who has lived experience? In this episode, Dr. Victor shares preliminary data that she has just begun analyzing regarding the prevalence rates of mental health difficulties and self-injury among psychologists and psychology graduate students. She provides guidance about how mental health professionals can provide appropriate care to therapy clients and supervision to trainees who have lived experience of self-injury and self-harm. She also discusses how individuals with lived experience can be involved in research and teaching.

Learn more about Dr. Victor and her work in the Tracking Risk Over Time Lab (TRTL) at https://www.depts.ttu.edu/psy/people/svictor/ and her website at https://www.sarahevictor.com/. Follow her on Twitter @sarahevictor. Below are links to some of her research and the resources referenced in this episode:

Psychologists with lived experience of non-suicidal self-injury: Priorities, obstacles, and recommendations for inclusion (click here for the free version of the author's manuscript)

LiveThroughThis.org

Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI)

ClinicalTrials.gov

Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter (@ITripleS).