Self-Harm & Suicidal Thoughts Therapy for Children, Teens, and Young Adults in Portland, OR

Understanding Self-Harm and Suicidal Thoughts

Many children, teens, and young adults experience intense emotional pain at some point in their lives. For some, this distress may lead to self-harm, such as intentionally hurting themselves to cope with overwhelming emotions, or to suicidal thoughts, which can range from fleeting thoughts of wanting to escape pain to more persistent thoughts about death or suicide.

Experiencing self-harm urges or suicidal thoughts does not necessarily mean that someone wants to die, is "seeking attention," or has failed in some way. These experiences are often signs that a young person is struggling with significant emotional distress and needs support. Self-harm and suicidal thoughts can occur alongside depression, anxiety, trauma, OCD, bullying, identity-related stress, family conflict, or other life challenges.

With compassionate, evidence-based treatment, young people can learn safer ways to cope, build hope, and reconnect with what matters most to them.

Evidence-Based Treatment

As a child and adolescent psychologist in Portland, OR, I provide evidence-based therapy for children, teens, and young adults experiencing self-harm, suicidal thoughts, emotion regulation difficulties, and related mental health concerns.

Treatment begins with understanding the factors contributing to distress, including emotional, social, family, developmental, and environmental influences. My approach focuses on helping young people develop effective coping skills, strengthen relationships, improve problem-solving abilities, and increase their ability to manage difficult emotions safely.

I draw from evidence-based approaches including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)-informed interventions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and trauma-informed care. These therapies can help young people build emotional awareness, tolerate distress, reduce self-critical thinking, and respond more effectively to difficult thoughts and feelings.

Parents and caregivers are often an important part of treatment. I work closely with families to improve communication, strengthen support systems, and develop practical strategies for responding to risk concerns while promoting safety and connection.

What to Expect During Therapy

Therapy begins with a comprehensive assessment to understand your child or teen's experiences, symptoms, strengths, supports, and level of risk. Together, we develop a treatment plan focused on safety, coping, and long-term well-being.

Treatment may include:

• Building emotional regulation skills

• Developing healthy coping strategies

• Reducing self-harm behaviors

• Managing suicidal thoughts

• Identifying triggers and warning signs

• Creating personalized safety plans

• Strengthening family communication

• Addressing underlying concerns such as anxiety, depression, trauma, OCD, or identity-related stress

• Building self-compassion, resilience, and hope

My goal is to provide a supportive environment where young people feel understood and empowered while helping families navigate difficult situations with confidence and care.

Important Note:

If your child is experiencing immediate safety concerns, has recently attempted suicide, cannot stay safe, or requires a higher level of care, I may recommend crisis services, emergency evaluation, or a more intensive treatment setting. Outpatient therapy is most effective when clients can safely participate in treatment between sessions.