Self-harm Treatment Center and Hospital in LaPlace, LA

Learn More About Self-harm Treatment at River Place Behavioral Health Hospital

Self-harm is a term used when someone purposely inflicts injury onto him or herself. There are countless ways in which an individual can self-harm, but common examples include cutting, burning, drinking harmful substances, and picking at skin. In most instances, people who self-harm are not seeking to end their lives. Rather, they may use this action as a means of coping with stress or emotional turmoil. They may find that causing physical pain can temporarily alleviate emotional pain because it gives them something tangible to focus on. Regardless of the reason why a person is purposely harming him or herself, it is imperative that he or she receives treatment. The act of self-harm is often symptomatic of the presence of a mental health disorder, and by receiving treatment, a diagnosis can be received and further therapeutic interventions can be implemented.

At River Place Behavioral Health, we know that it can be difficult to identify the reasons why one chooses to inflict personal harm. But by engaging in our programming, we can help you or your loved one discover the root cause of why this behavior began, and begin teaching you or your loved one positive coping skills to help manage future challenges. By coming to River Place, you or your loved can successfully overcome the compulsion to engage in self-harming behaviors.

Helping a Loved One or Family Member Get Treatment for Self-harm

Discovering that a family member or other loved one is self-harming can be devastating. It can be difficult to understand why anyone would want to intentionally feel pain, and you may be struggling to figure out the best way to intervene and help him or her. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to help. The following are some suggestions:

• Research the signs and symptoms that could indicate that a person is self-harming. You may have suspicions that your loved one is engaging in this behavior, but by learning about common signs, it may become easier to identify.
• Initiate a conversation with your loved one. While this can be an intimidating task, it is important that you be honest with him or her about your concerns. Prepare yourself for your loved one to be defensive, and possibly even become angry. But remain calm and nonjudgmental.
• Look for treatment centers in your loved one’s area that offer care specifically for self-harming behaviors. Share your findings with your loved one, and offer to accompany him or her when he or she chooses to explore the options available.
• Once your loved one has enrolled in a treatment program, make every effort to be an active source of support. The involvement of family and friends is crucial when someone is receiving treatment because it prevents them from feeling ashamed and isolated.
• When your loved one’s treatment has come to an end, remain a constant presence in his or her life. Offer ongoing support and encouragement as he or she begins to use the skills learned in treatment and apply them to his or her daily life.

Why Consider Treatment for Self-harm at River Place Behavioral Health

Engaging in the act of self-harm can elicit any number of negative consequences. One’s health will instantly be in jeopardy, depending on the specific means by which he or she is inflicting injury. For example, if someone is cutting, he or she can unintentionally cut too deep, causing severe and possibly life-threatening wounds. Additionally, one’s mental health will continue to worsen. If the person is struggling with emotional turmoil or distress, the act of self-harm will only bring about temporary relief. It is preventing him or her from learning positive coping skills and appropriate ways to handle stresses.

Ongoing self-harm can also impact one’s ability to perform at work or school. The person may begin to push loved ones away in an attempt to keep their behavior a secret. This can result in a deterioration of relationships and social isolation, both of which can further result in a pervasive need to continue self-harming.

By choosing to receive treatment, however, these negative consequences can begin to be repaired or may be prevented altogether.

Types of Treatment for Self-harm at River Place Behavioral Health

Located in LaPlace, Louisiana, and serving the New Orleans metropolitan area, River Place Behavioral Health is a new, state-of-the-art inpatient mental and behavioral health treatment center. With updated technology to provide the best care for our patients, electronic medical records for ensuring prompt retrieval of pertinent information, and a secluded area that offers privacy, River Place is an ideal setting for you to begin healing from the effects of self-harming behaviors.

At River Place Behavioral Health, we recognize that people respond to various treatment interventions differently, and one’s age can be a major factor in how he or she processes the skills he or she is learning. For this reason, we offer specialized treatment tracks for adolescents and adults. Each program is designed to meet the specific needs of each population, ensuring that all participants achieve true and lasting healing.

Regardless of which program you take part in, we will provide you with an individualized treatment plan that outlines the specific therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities that will best help you begin to heal from the effects of self-harm. Within this treatment plan, the following services may be offered:

Medical care: If you are in need of medical care during your time at River Place, our internal medicine clinicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs), and other nurses are available to provide daily services.

Medication management: When you are being treated for the compulsion to engage in self-harming behaviors, certain medications may be recommended to alleviate distressing symptoms. Your need for medication management services will be assessed upon admission and throughout your stay. You will have access to these services, which will include close monitoring of the effects of your medications, three times per week.

Individual therapy: Individual therapy is offered on an as-needed basis. It serves as a time for you to work one-on-one with a social worker or counselor to process the challenges you are facing, address any concerns you may be having, and celebrate successes as you achieve them.

Group therapy: Group therapy is an integral part of the treatment process when receiving care to overcome the desire to self-harm, and you will participate in group sessions on a daily basis. These sessions are led by social workers, counselors, nurses, and behavioral health technicians, and may include discussions on the following topics:

• Coping skills
• Goals
• Communities
• Daily living skills
• Self-esteem building
• Life management

Family therapy: Recognizing that mental health disorders can affect your entire family, we provide family therapy sessions so as to allow you and your loved ones the opportunity to process through the challenges you have faced and work towards coming together as a strong, healthy family unit. Family therapy sessions are led by counselors, social workers, and psychiatrists, depending on the specific needs of your family.

Experiential therapies: In order to provide you with a holistic approach to care as you learn to manage your desire to self-harm, we offer a number of experiential therapies that complement the more traditional forms of therapy. By taking part in these activities at our hospital, you can achieve healing on all levels – mind, body, and spirit. Our experiential therapies include the following:

• Music therapy
• Art therapy
• Movement / exercise

Continuing Care After Inpatient Treatment for Self-harm

Inpatient treatment is often only the first step in the process of learning to fully control your self-harming behaviors. This level of care is designed to help you achieve stabilization and begin developing coping skills and additional tools that allow you to jumpstart your recovery. But once inpatient care has come to an end, you may benefit from receiving ongoing outpatient services. These services will help you solidify the skills you learned while in inpatient treatment and truly thrive as you move forward.

Various levels of outpatient care are available. Our recommendations for the specific level that will be of most benefit to you will be based upon your unique needs and treatment goals. When you begin treatment at River Place, we will immediately start developing a discharge plan that will outline recommendations for follow-up care.

River Place is focused solely on providing inpatient care. However, once your time for discharge arrives, we will provide referrals for outside resources that deliver necessary continuing care.

At River Place Behavioral Health, we are dedicated to ensuring that all of your needs are met. Our support does not end when you leave our hospital. Instead, we will continue to provide ongoing encouragement and assistance as you step down to the next level of care and rejoin your community.

If you or a loved one is in need of comprehensive treatment to heal from the effects of self-harm and to avoid engaging in this behavior in the future, look no further than River Place Behavioral Health. Our knowledgeable and compassionate staff members are available to answer any questions you may have, and to help you decide if our hospital is the right fit for you.