Have you treated any clients in your work who have repeated patterns of self-harm?

This study seeks to investigate clinicians’ perceptions of repetitive self-harm and conceptualisation of it in therapy. Repetitive self-harm is a deeply concerning and important issue in many different contexts and within mental health. As a subject that occurs across many services, clinicians have varying experiences and perceptions of what causes it, how it is felt by patients, and the most effective conceptualization of repetitive self-harm from within the therapy room. It is hoped to examine these views and add to on-going discussions on how repetitive self-harm can be conceptually understood within counselling and psychotherapy practice.

Interviews will be semi-structured and will include open-ended questions in order to promote thoughtful dialogue around the participants’ experiences and conceptualizations from their practice. Interviews will be carried out online using Microsoft Teams and will be approximately 45-60 minutes long. All interviews will be audio-recorded and subsequently transcribing for purposes of this study. Any identifiable information will be removed and be pseudonymised. The research data will be analysed using thematic analysis.

In order to take part you must be:

• 18 years or over

• Currently employed within the UK

• Have experience treating people who engage in repetitive self-harm

Participants will receive a £20 voucher as a token of appreciation for their time. It is hoped that the participants recruited into the study come from diverse backgrounds in both their professional roles and therapeutic orientations to include counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, psychiatry, nursing and related professional bodies.

The study is being undertaken as part of a MSc in Clinical Mental Health Sciences dissertation at University College London and has obtained Ethical approval from University College London (Ethics Reference number: 2831). Please e-mail jana.sobh.25@ucl.ac.uk if you wish to express your interest in participating, or to gain more information.

Please see here for more information.
Please see here to view the participant information sheet.