[Daeva]

Do T's have to report Self-Injury? I have been in the psych ward twice in the last month, and rather not go back. So If I tell her can she really do anything about it?

That varies from therapist to therapist from what I've read around here. The best you can do is really discuss this question and concern with your therapist so you know how she handles various circumstances.

[Victoria'smom]

I've had 7 ish T's only 2 told my parents because I was under age. I think it probably depends on the therapist and the severity. My T always asks to see it if I'm willing.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by Daeva

Do T's have to report Self-Injury? I have been in the psych ward twice in the last month, and rather not go back. So If I tell her can she really do anything about it?

I see by your profile you are in New York. if thats the NY state in America yes, this state has mandated reporting laws that say treatment providers must report when their clients are a danger to their self and others by way of suicide /self injury or homicidal. (this law has been in effect for a long time though it is strictly followed more so now because of 9/11 and NY's zero tolerance for violence to self and others laws)

that said most treatment providers also understand that sometimes self injury can be managed out patient ....if.....the client is willing to be honest, forthright and actively work on the problem.

example me...I sometimes fall into self injury. the first few times I did so while under the care of a mental health treatment provider I was hospitalized for being a danger to myself and possibly others.

finally on intake to a new therapist I told the therapist first thing. she asked if theres anything I wanted her to know about me before we started getting to work. I said yes I have a history of self injury, this is what I do and why, and this is is how long its been since the last time.

that therapist thanked me for being so forthright and right then and there we drew up a treatment plan and contract that basically stated I would tell her ....before .....I self injured that its becoming a problem so that we could work on the problem that was causing the self injury thoughts ...before...they became actions that would need inpatient care according to the law.

this has worked out great for me. every treatment provider after that one I always informed them it was an issue so that we could deal with the problem out patient before it reached the point where the treatment provider had to follow the state mandated reporting laws.

[anilam]

Really? Hospitalise s.o. just because they SH doesn't sound right- after all, it's a pretty common behaviour and if the client is not SUI why would there be a need to lock him/her up?

And I was about to tell the OP that she should be fine if she clearly states she's in no danger...
Thanks for clarifying AmandaLouise.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by anilam

Really? Hospitalise s.o. just because they SH doesn't sound right- after all, it's a pretty common behaviour and if the client is not SUI why would there be a need to lock him/her up?

And I was about to tell the OP that she should be fine if she clearly states she's in no danger...
Thanks for clarifying AmandaLouise.

you're welcome...yes I know it sounds pretty extreme but on the other end of this its a fine line between self injury and accidental death.

I personally would not want to wake up one day and open the newspaper to find someone I knew was dead because their self injuring accidentally went too far.

I'm glad NY has the laws they do. for me and others that I know who self injure, I would rather be alive and having a therapist (inpatient or outpatient) helping me to find other ways to handle my problems then risking my life through self injury.

[Daeva]

I told my counselor, and actually she doesn't have to report it. Only if I'm suicidal or homicidal

[RTerroni]

Originally Posted by Daeva

I told my counselor, and actually she doesn't have to report it. Only if I'm suicidal or homicidal

But I guess the question here is "can she" report it.

[coleychi]

Originally Posted by Daeva

I told my counselor, and actually she doesn't have to report it. Only if I'm suicidal or homicidal

That's what I thought the rule was too. Although, with my last therapist, I got so afraid of reporting any suicidal thoughts because I felt like she would just institutionalize me... again. Ugh.

[FeelTheBurn]

Interesting, the difference between "suicidal/homicidal" and "a danger to self/others." Under the first, you'd have reporting saved only for when a person is actively planning to cause deadly harm. Under the second, you have much more leeway--and while often SH is mild or superficial, self injury can definitely lead to serious self harm, even accidentally. So the therapist's moral obligations (even outside of her legal ones) become a little less cut and dried. I wouldn't want to be the T that explained to a person's family why I didn't hospitalize her when she was escalating her SH.

I've always been told that in my state, the standard is the "danger" one, which gives a T a lot of flexibility in how she assesses imminent threat to health. It's a tricky subject.