Ouch. It sounds like you didn't have a very supportive environment. It's terrifying to talk about at first - I was really frightened about how my T would react and when he didn't negatively react - when he expressed concern and then demonstrated he was on my side, it became easier.

If you want to write something out that can help. He was the first person who actually told *me* why I was doing it. I had abstract ideas (I'm in so much pain) and when he sat down with my husband he said that it was a coping mechanism and not to be frightened of it. In other words, he validated me without necessarily validating the behavior. It was incredibly freeing to know that he was very comfortable dealing with it. That concern =/= fear or invalidation.

You're coping and if you talk to her, she can help you figure out why this is your go-to coping mechanism and help you work towards a healthier one.