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

Nicholas J. Westers Psy.D. ABPP

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Mental Health

Self-Injury

Youth Mental Health

Help-Seeking Behaviors

Community Support

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

Self-Criticism

Disordered Eating

Stigma

Suicide Prevention

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Parenting

Adolescents

Young Adults

Ecological Momentary Assessment

Communication Strategies

Parenting Strategies

Coping Strategies

Distress Tolerance

Why do people self-injure? And what is the best way to respond when someone tells us they self-injure? Dr. Nicholas Westers, a clinical psychologist at Children's Health and Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, collaborates with the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) to interview the leading experts in the field of self-injury and self-... more

236 ratings

Publishes	Monthly	Episodes	73	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Health & FitnessScienceMental HealthSocial Sciences

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Guests Host Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring (Re-Release)

How are scars from nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) different than physical scars that are unintentional or result from non-self-inflicted wounds ? What psychological effects can result from daily reminders of one's own decision to self-harm? Is there ... more

29 May 2026 • 43 min • Most popular

Eating Disorders & Self-Harm (Re-Release)

The term "self-harm" is an umbrella term, encompassing a broad range of behaviors, under which is included substance abuse and misuse, suicide, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and even eating disorders. In this episode, Dr. Katie Gordon, a Licensed C... more

28 Apr 2026 • 38 min

Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) Who Self-Harm (Re-Release)

Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) and its internet-delivered version (IERITA) is just one of a couple of treatments developed specifically to address nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents. In this episode, Dr. J... more

27 Mar 2026 • 1 hr 13 min

Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT) for Self-Harm (Re-Release)

A lot of therapies address the context in which nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and self-harm may occur, but only a few treatments have been designed to address NSSI specifically. In this episode, we dive into one of these treatments: Emotion Regulati... more

27 Feb 2026 • 1 hr 40 min

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Recent Guests

Taylor Burke

Assistant professor at Harvard Medical School; licensed clinical psychologist; director of pediatric computational health in the Center for Precision Psychiatry; associate director of suicide research in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School

Episode: The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring (Re-Release)

Dr. Katie Gordon

Licensed clinical psychologist specializing in CBT; author and researcher

Independent clinical psychologist; author of The Suicidal Thoughts Workbook

Episode: Eating Disorders & Self-Harm (Re-Release)

Dr. Johan Bjureberg

Lead developer of IERITA/IRIDA

Karolinska Institute, Center for Psychiatry Research

Episode: Emotion Regulation Individual Therapy for Adolescents (ERITA) Who Self-Harm (Re-Release)

Kim Gratz

Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychology, University of Toledo

University of Toledo

Episode: Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT) for Self-Harm (Re-Release)

Matthew Tull

Professor in the Department of Psychology, University of Toledo

University of Toledo

Episode: Emotion Regulation Group Therapy (ERGT) for Self-Harm (Re-Release)

Dr. Nancy Heath

James McGill Professor in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology and Associate Dean of Research at McGill University

McGill University

Episode: Self-Injury in Schools (Re-Release)

Dr. Christian Schmahl

Professor of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy at Heidelberg University

Heidelberg University

Episode: What Role Does Blood Play in Self-Injury?, with Dr. Christian Schmahl

Dr. Rachel Zelkowitz

Clinical research psychologist at VA Boston Health Care System, focused on self-directed violence in trauma-exposed individuals

Boston University School of Medicine

Episode: Trauma and Self-Injury, with Dr. Rachel Zelkowitz

Dr. Janis Whitlock

Emerita research faculty at Cornell University, founder and director of the Cornell Research Program on Self-Injury and Recovery

Cornell University

Episode: Parenting with Lived Experience of Self-Injury, with Dr. Janis Whitlock

Host

Dr. Nicholas Westers

Host of the podcast and clinical psychologist, affiliated with Children's Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 236 ratings

Thoughtful and learning so much!
I learn so much from this podcast. I enjoyed the episode with Dr Barry Walsh about working with and supporting people with atypical and severe self-injury. Thank you for all the work that you do!!!
Apple Podcasts
5
TianaX
United States5 months ago
This is incredible work!
I'm so glad this podcast exists and I believe societies need to have this discussion and follow this science and improve our methods of responding to NSSI. Thank you Dr. Westers and everyone contributing to this.
Audible
5
Hunter Chidley
United States8 months ago
I'm so glad this podcast exists and I believe societies need to have this discussion and follow this science and improve our methods of responding to NSSI. Thank you Dr. Westers and everyone contributing to this.
Audible
5
Hunter Chidley
United States8 months ago
Love this podcast!!
I am so grateful for the wonderful information and insights this podcast provides!
As somebody with lived experience, it’s been really comforting to have somewhere I can turn for information and feel less alone.
I am currently pursuing a degree in Occupational Therapy and would love to hear from a guest who works in the field about the role that an OT can play in the prevention and treatment of NSSI
Apple Podcasts
5
annnnaaaaaaMmm
United Statesa year ago
Great pod
I have lived experience with self injury, and I have found Allison’s interview to be one of the most eye opening interviews that I’ve heard. Hearing it described as compulsive self injury was incredibly eye opening. Very educational, and super interesting.
Apple Podcasts
5
Koalabe
United Statesa year ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Parents and clinicians highlight practical guidance and resources that translate into real-world care.

Listeners praise the show as thoughtful and educational, especially on complex topics like self-injury and scarring.

Many note the host's empathetic approach and the quality of experts featured.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts	#97	Singapore/Health & Fitness/Mental Health
Apple Podcasts	#146	South Africa/Health & Fitness/Mental Health

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring (Re-Release)

Q: What would you recommend to parents in discussing self-injury scars with their children?

Parents should approach conversations with openness, non-judgment, and curiosity, avoid projecting their fears, and consider seeking support themselves to maintain a supportive, stigma-free environment that protects the parent-child relationship.

The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring (Re-Release)

Q: Is there a relationship between how people think about their scars and their likelihood of continuing self-injury or stopping?

Negative scar cognitions are linked to current distress and can contribute to a cycle where scar reminders provoke aversive emotions and trigger further self-injury, though many continue to experience mixed beliefs that also include protective or positive views.

The Psychology of Self-Injury Scarring (Re-Release)

Q: So how is self-injury scarring different or experienced differently at least than other types of scarring like scars that result from non-self-inflicted wounds?

Self-injury scarring is often embedded in a context of high emotion and coping with aversive internal experiences, leading to unique meanings and greater stigma, which can change how individuals view themselves and their scars compared to scars from other causes.

Self-Injury in Schools (Re-Release)

Q: What would you recommend to parents of children who have self-injured?

Parents should educate themselves about self-injury before reacting, seeking reputable resources rather than relying on hearsay or local professionals who may lack training.

Self-Injury in Schools (Re-Release)

Q: How did you become interested in researching self-injury and researching self-injury in schools specifically?

Dr. Heath became interested in self-injury research after one of her doctoral students encountered it while studying depression in schools, leading to the realization of its prevalence and the lack of understanding in educational contexts.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A clinically oriented show that centers on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and related mental health topics, featuring interviews with leading researchers, clinicians, and occasionally individuals with lived experience. Episodes frequently explore mechanisms like emotion regulation, evidence-based treatments (e.g., DBT, ACT, ERGT/IERITA), the intersection of NSSI with eating disorders, trauma, and school environments, as well as family dynamics and help-seeking behaviors. Guests are drawn from top universities and medical centers, offering practical insights for clinicians, parents, and researchers, with a compassionate, stigma-reducing approach. The format tends to mix theory, empirical findings, and actionable strategies for assessment, t... more

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this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Taylor Burke
2. Dr. Katie Gordon
3. Dr. Johan Bjureberg
4. Kim Gratz
5. Matthew Tull
6. Dr. Nancy Heath
7. Dr. Christian Schmahl
8. Dr. Rachel Zelkowitz

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