Hi Halliebeth,
Everyone needs to do what is right for them, but when I write about hard things for my counselor, I try *not* to write about them at home if I know it will be upsetting. I try to do it somewhere else, like at a coffee shop, or the library, or even at his office. It works out better for me, and I'm less likely to hurt myself if I should get upset, and sometimes it feels safer somehow. If I'm home alone, I can get stuck in my upset feelings. I don't know if that will make sense. If I think I am going to be writing about something particularly hard, I try to wait to write about it until I am with my counselor, or at his office. This might be a little complicated since you are seeing a therapist at your school, and it might not work out the same for each person, but I've found this helpful for me.

And in my case, it has helped to get rid of any things I might use to hurt myself. That way, I'm not as tempted to do self-injuring things, because those items aren't around. Initially when it was hard to throw things away, I brought them to my counselor's office, and threw them away there. If I am tempted to get new things, I make a point of steering clear....staying as far away as possible....and not even going near whatever it is....again, so I'm not even tempted, not even getting close to the item, or the idea of it...not even going to stores where I might be tempted to buy something I'd use to hurt myself, for instance. If the item is with me or near me, it's going to be a lot easier to start hurting myself. If I get rid of all the items, and keep myself away from items, I'm already a lot safer and a lot less likely to have a slip-up. I find it's even more important than usual to stay away from items when I'm going through stressful or upsetting things.

I know it is hard to think about doing the workbook and talking with the therapist about these things, but it can help in the longrun to be able to talk about important stuff like this. It has helped me and the people I know who have talked about painful events in their pasts.

Take care,
ErinBear