The therapeutic journey of adults that have engaged in self-harm

Abstract

This study explored the therapeutic journey of two women that had engaged in self-harm. The research questions sought to explore the women’s understanding of self-harm and their experience in the therapeutic process on the one part. On the other, it explored the psychologists’ experiences and construal of helpful events and critical incidents along their journey in psychotherapy. The study employed a retrospective case study method with an in-depth interview design. The data was triangulated by capturing the narratives of both the women who engaged in self-harm over two and the psychologists who provided psychological intervention. A total of 6 interviews were carried out; two with each of the women and one with each of the psychologists. A narrative approach was adopted and the data from participants was transcribed verbatim. The interviews were analysed using Narrative Analysis. Three dominant themes emerged from participants’ narratives: (i) ‘Finding myself in the canoe and in the forest’ which depicted how and why the participants came to self-harm (ii) ‘Navigating the seas and trees’ which depicted how they got trapped in the cycle of self-harm and (iii) ‘Finding the land and meadow’ which portrayed how therapy was supportive. The findings illustrated how both women had a negative perspective of their self-identity, perpetuated by their difficulties in regulating their emotions and distorted cognitions about themselves and the world. The interaction of these factors impacted their interpersonal relationships and maintained their self-harming behaviour.