Therapy for Self-Harm Support in Thousand Oaks, Santa Monica, and throughout California

You might be experiencing:

  • urges to harm yourself

  • difficulty managing intense emotions

  • feelings of overwhelm, numbness, or distress

  • patterns that feel hard to stop, even when you want to

A compassionate approach

Self-harm is often a way of coping with overwhelming internal experiences. It can serve a function, even if it also brings pain or confusion.

Therapy is not about judgment or forcing change, but about understanding what’s happening and creating space for new ways of coping.

How therapy can help

We work to:

  • understand the underlying emotional experience

  • build tools for emotional regulation

  • increase feelings of safety and support

  • develop alternative ways of coping

My approach

I take a gentle, attuned approach and integrate somatic therapy, EMDR, parts work, and DBT-informed skills to support both emotional and nervous system regulation.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) offers practical tools for managing intense emotions, reducing harmful behaviors, and building a greater sense of stability and safety, which we incorporate alongside deeper therapeutic work.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Never. Self-harm is often a coping mechanism developed to manage overwhelming emotional pain or distress. Therapy is a collaborative, non-judgmental space where we work together to understand the root causes of your distress and build safe, supportive alternatives at a pace that feels doable for you.

  • No. Self-harm (non-suicidal self-injury) is distinct from an acute suicidal crisis. Discussing self-harm or urges in therapy will not automatically result in hospitalization. We will focus on open communication, grounded coping tools, and safety planning to keep you safe in your daily life.

  • I utilize an integrative, body-centered approach combining Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Somatic Experiencing® techniques, and mindfulness. These tools help you track physical triggers, regulate your nervous system, and tolerate intense emotions without resorting to self-injury.

  • Signs include unexplained cuts, burns, or bruises, wearing long sleeves/pants in warm weather, emotional withdrawal, severe mood swings, or finding sharp objects. If you notice these signs, compassionate professional therapy can provide a safe space to process underlying emotional pain before patterns deepen.

  • Outpatient therapy sessions are scheduled appointments and not a 24/7 crisis response service. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of harming themselves, please call or text 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or go to the nearest emergency room.