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

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

Author: Nicholas J. Westers Psy.D. ABPP Language: English Episodes: 50
Dr. Nicholas Westers, a clinical psychologist and professor, hosts The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health. This podcast moves beyond simple questions to explore the complex realities of self-injury, offering a space for nuanced conversation often missing from public discourse. Each episode is built on collaboration with the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury, ensuring the content is both credible and compassionate. You'll hear from leading researchers and clinicians who share the latest scientific understanding, but crucially, the series also centers voices with lived experience. These personal narratives provide essential context, helping to humanize the statistics and theories discussed. The dialogue tackles difficult topics, from the underlying psychological functions of self-harm to practical guidance on how to support someone who is struggling. It’s designed for anyone seeking a deeper, evidence-based comprehension-whether you're a mental health professional, an educator, a family member, or someone on a personal journey of understanding. By weaving together expert insight and personal story, this podcast fosters a more informed and empathetic perspective on a deeply misunderstood aspect of mental health.
Episodes
Trauma and Self-Injury, with Dr. Rachel Zelkowitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:13
Rachel Zelkowitz, PhD, from the VA Boston Healthcare System and the National Center for PTSD defines "trauma," shares what treatments exist for treating trauma, and discusses the prevalence of self-injury and self-harm a…
Parenting with Lived Experience of Self-Injury, with Dr. Janis Whitlock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:13
Janis Whitlock, PhD, from Cornell University and Senior Advisor for The JED Foundation explains how caregivers with lived experience of self-injury can navigate conversations with their children about their own history o…
DSM Update: Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Disorder, or a Clinical Specifier? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:20
Drs. Greg Lengel, Maria Zetterqvist, Amy Brausch, and Jason Washburn explain why they now advocate for nonsuicidal self-injury and self-harm to be considered a clinical specifier rather than a disorder in the Diagnostic…
Help-Seeking for Self-Injury, with Nani Kim, RN [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:51
Nani Kim, RN, at the University of Texas at Austin shares a review of research on help-seeking behaviors for self-injury and self-harm.
Why Do People Self-Injure? Part 2, with Dr. Kirsty Hird [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:48
Kirsty Hird, PhD, from The Kids Research Institute Australia explains in depth why people self-injure or self-harm according to six specific theoretical models of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).
Self-Harm in Older Adults, with Dr. Lisa Van Hove [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:26
Lisa Van Hove, PhD, from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Brussels University) in Belgium reveals the prevalence and characteristics of self-injury and self-harm among older adults (ages 60+).
Lived Experience: Ben's Story of Self-Injury [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:12
Ben from California shares his story of lived experience of self-injury as a man, including how he views recovery and copes with significant scarring from self-harm wounds.