This online event will bring together three presentations to help counsellors and psychotherapists develop a more compassionate, confident and ethically informed approach to working with self-harm. It'll recognise that self-harm isn't a single experience and will have different functions for different people. It can be associated with overwhelming feelings, trauma, loss, isolation or a need for relief, communication or control. Although self-harm can be associated with increased suicide risk, it doesn't necessarily indicate suicidal intent. Understanding this distinction, while remaining alert to risk, is an important part of proportionate and person-centred practice. [sift.org.uk]

The first presentation will explore how self-harm is understood and experienced, challenging common myths and considering the impact of language, shame, stigma and cultural or social context. It'll encourage practitioners to remain curious about what self-harm means for the individual, rather than making assumptions based on the behaviour itself. 

The second presentation will focus on the therapeutic relationship and practical ways of working. It'll consider how practitioners can begin conversations about self-harm, respond to disclosures without alarm or judgement, and work collaboratively to understand patterns, triggers, needs and alternative ways of coping. Attention will also be given to difference and diversity, including how age, identity, neurodivergence, culture and access to support may shape a client’s experience and the therapeutic response. 

The final presentation will examine ethical decision-making when risk is present. It'll explore professional responsibilities around confidentiality, safeguarding, information sharing and collaborative safety planning, including how practitioners can balance client autonomy with the need to respond to serious or immediate concerns. It'll also acknowledge the emotional demands of this work and the importance of supervision, consultation, boundaries and practitioner self-care. 

Together, the presentations will support members to approach self-harm with greater confidence, clarity and compassion. Delegates will be encouraged to reflect on their own responses, increase their confidence in difficult conversations and develop approaches that keep the person, rather than the behaviour, at the centre of therapeutic work.

Event aims 

This event aims to support counsellors and psychotherapists to develop a compassionate, informed and ethically grounded approach to working with self-harm across a range of client groups and practice settings. 

The main aims of this event are to:

  • deepen understanding of self-harm as a complex response to emotional distress, rather than viewing it solely as a behaviour to be stopped 
  • explore how stigma, assumptions, language and practitioner anxiety can affect the therapeutic relationship 
  • increase confidence in talking openly with clients about self-harm and exploring its meaning, function and context 
  • consider proportionate approaches to risk, safeguarding, confidentiality, collaborative safety planning and interprofessional working 
  • support practitioners to recognise the emotional impact of this work and make effective use of supervision, reflective practice and professional support 

Learning outcomes 

By attending this event, delegates will learn to:

  • develop a more nuanced understanding of self-harm, including its possible meanings, functions and relationship to emotional distress, trauma, identity and wider social context 
  • recognise and challenge stigma, assumptions and unhelpful language that may affect how self-harm is understood, perceived and discussed within the therapeutic relationship 
  • use compassionate and developmentally appropriate approaches to initiate conversations about self-harm and explore the client’s individual experience without judgement 
  • apply ethical and proportionate decision-making when considering risk, safeguarding, confidentiality, information sharing and collaborative safety planning 
  • reflect on the impact of working with self-harm and identify how supervision, self-awareness, boundaries and practitioner support can contribute to safe and sustainable practice 

Programme

This event will begin at 9.30am and finish around 1pm. 

The programme will be available soon.

Key information

This event will take place online on Tuesday 26 January 2027.

After booking you'll receive a confirmation email. Full joining instructions will be sent out nearer the event date.

Your booking includes:

  • approximately three hours of CPD presentations
  • CPD certificate to download
  • selected presentation slides
  • access to the on-demand service where you can catch up on the recordings from Tuesday 26 January 2027 to Wednesday 26 May 2027
  • opportunities to network with other attendees through the chatroom

Accessibility 

The event livestream service is available with AI subtitles.  

The on-demand service will be subtitled and/or transcribed through a reviewed process to ensure accuracy.

For a full list of our event accessibility commitments please visit our website >