CPHSSWCE0412 - Non-suicidal Self-Injury: Assessment and Conceptualization

Course Description

This training is intended as an introduction for mental health clinicians to understand nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), a behavior which presents across many clinical issues in mental health treatment. The course content will focus on defining NSSI, including its status as a ‘condition for further study’ in the DSM-5, and then developing skills to assess clients who present with NSSI behaviors. Participants will leave the course with knowledge about the behavior and specific theories to guide conceptualization and treatment. Participants will practice assessment skills and utilize a standard assessment model to reduce the impact of bias from common misconceptions about the behavior. Finally, basic information about treatment approaches, ethical considerations, and treatment modalities will be presented to provide resources for further development.

Course Outline

1:00 PM – 1:05 PM: Introductions

1:05 PM – 1:10 PM: Goals & Agenda

1:10 PM – 1:35 PM: Introduction to NSSI

• Definition & Prevalence
• Conceptual History and Classification
• DSM-5 Classification4.Clinical Comorbidity

1:35 PM – 1:40 PM: ACTIVITY: Self-assessment survey and Discussion

1:40 PM – 1:55 PM: Assessment of NSSI

• Misconceptions
• Assessing Your Attitudes
• Assessment Approach
• Cultural Considerations

1:55 PM – 2:05 PM: High Risk Behaviors Assessment

• Suicidality Assessment
• Other High-risk behaviors

2:05 PM – 2:15 PM: ACTIVITY: Risk assessment for NSSI Dyadic activity

2:15 PM – 2:30 PM: BREAK

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM: SOARS Assessment Model

2:50 PM – 3:05 PM: ACTIVITY: SOARS Assessment Dyadic Activity

3:05 PM – 3:40 PM: Conceptualization of NSSI: 4 Approaches

• Maladaptive coping tool
• Addiction behavior
• Reenactment of Trauma
• Four-Function Behavioral Model
• Cultural Conceptualization

3:40 PM – 3:55 PM: Treatment Modalities

• DBT
• CBT
• Behavioral Therapy

3:55 PM – 4:10 PM: Treatment Approaches

• Risk Assessment and Harm Reduction
• Ethical Considerations

4:10 PM – 4:15 PM: Wrap-up summary

Learner Outcomes

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Define nonsuicidal self-injury, identify its clinical presentations, and status in the DSM-5 as a condition for further study.
• Clarify 5 misconceptions about the behavior to reduce biased assumptions in assessment.
• Distinguish nonsuicidal self-injury from 3 other self-destructive and life-threatening behaviors in its presentation, clinical comorbidity, and conceptualization.
• Identify 4 functions of nonsuicidal self-injury that reinforce the behavior.

When participants return to the workplace, they will be able to:

• Assess self-injury behaviors with an approach of empathy and objectivity.
• Apply a standard assessment model to gather clinically relevant information about a client’s self-injury behaviors.
• Determine risk assessment of nonsuicidal self-injury behaviors vs. suicidal behaviors.
• Apply 4 conceptual models to understand a client’s behavior and inform a treatment approach.