The significance of a sense of being in control for young people who received counselling for self‐harm

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundInstances of self‐harm by young people are rising and are an increasing challenge for healthcare and mental health services. Young people's negative experiences of accessing help and support when they self‐harm are a contributing factor to them not seeking help in future episodes.MethodSemistructured interviews were conducted with 10 young people aged 17–20 years old who had received therapy relating to self‐harm from a National Health Service (NHS) Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service in the East of England. The data were analysed using reflective thematic analysis.Findings and DiscussionThis study provides a new understanding of how a greater sense of feeling in control over their lives is a common goal for therapy for young people who self‐harm. This investigation also shows that gaining understanding or reclaiming a sense of being in control results in the young person experiencing the therapy in a positive light and assessing it as successful. The results also show that an increased sense of being in control is sometimes overlooked and a missing aspect of therapy with young people who self‐harm.