OakHeart, Center for Counseling
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      • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Worry)
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    • Vanessa Osmer
    • Kat Harris
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Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) Treatment in Sycamore and North Aurora IL

If you are interested in counseling for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), call OakHeart at 630-570-0050 or 779-201-6440 or email us at [email protected]. We have counselors, psychologists, and social workers available to help you at one of our locations in North Aurora, IL, Sycamore, IL, and/or via Telehealth Online Therapy Services serving Kane County, DeKalb County, Dupage County, and beyond. 
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What is Non-Suicidal Self-Injury?

NSSI is the intentional destruction of one’s own body without suicidal intention and usually for purposes of distracting or numbing from emotional and psychiatric distress and/or self-punishment.  In rare instances, self-injury can be used to influence others.  Many people who engage in NSSI have more than one method of injuring themselves.  Some common examples include cutting, burning, scratching, banging body parts, hitting oneself, and cramping body parts purposely.  NSSI has been found to increase the risk of suicide, making it crucial to address these behaviors as soon as possible.   

Once NSSI is used by an individual it becomes easier to turn to that behavior when in distress.  An urge is often developed.  The performance of the self-injurious behavior provides a calming effect or feeling of relief, which reinforces the continued use of the behavior during distress. Many people describe starting these behaviors by only engaging in them occasionally, but often find that the behaviors have increased to daily or multiple times a day.  

People who engage in NSSI often struggle to tolerate uncomfortable emotions because they have reduced their thresholds for emotional intensity due to their unwillingness to feel their uncomfortable emotions.  People who engage in NSSI often feel shameful and may try to hide their cuts or scars from others.
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Call to Schedule an Appointment

How do you Treat Non-Suicidal Self-Injury?

The good news is that there is a highly effective treatment approach for those that engage in NSSI behaviors.  The first-line of treatment is Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), medications, or both. 

DBT is a mindfulness based cognitive behavioral therapy treatment approach aimed at increasing mindfulness, building skills to regulation all emotions, including the uncomfortable ones, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance to address those crisis moments when the urge feels strong and too powerful.    

If getting help to address your self-injurious behaviors seems scary, don’t worry, we understand, and you are not alone.  Your therapist is there to guide you every step of the way, by helping you to set small goals for yourself, providing you with every tool necessary, and cheering you on in your recovery.  We feel strongly that if you are engaging in NSSI it is important to reach out for help and we are confident that our therapist at OakHeart can help guide and support you toward recovery.   

Click here to learn more about Panic Disorder
​Click here to learn more about Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Click here to learn more about Depression
​Click here to learn more about Grief and Bereavement 
Click here to learn more about Insomnia
​Click here to learn more about Bipolar Disorder

OakHeart NSSI Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers

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Vanessa Osmer, MA
LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR​​​
Vanessa's Bio
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Bridgette Koukos, MA
LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR​
Bridgette's Bio
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Caroline Dress, MA
LICENSED CLINICAL PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR​
Carolines's Bio
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Christina Bieche, MSEd
Licensed Clinical Professional COunselor
Christina's Bio
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Katie Sheehan, MSW
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
​​​
Katie's Bio

Resources

General Information on NSSI
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Counseling Phone: 630-570-0050
Fax: 630-570-0045
Email: [email protected]
North Aurora, IL Location
​66 Miller Drive, Suite 105
North Aurora, IL 60542
phone: 630-570-0050
​Sycamore, IL Location
1950 DeKalb Ave, Unit E
Sycamore, IL 60178
phone: 779-201-6440
  • Home
  • Counseling
  • Specialties
    • Depression
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Anxiety Disorders >
      • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (Worry)
      • Social Anxiety Disorder
      • Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
      • Health Anxiety
      • Specific Phobias
    • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
    • Eating Disorders
    • Grief and Bereavement
    • ADHD
    • Maternal Mental Health
    • Infertility, Miscarriage, and Neonatal Loss
    • Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
    • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) >
      • COVID-19 Related PTSD and Anxiety >
        • COVID-19 Resources
    • Trauma
    • Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)
    • Substance Use Disorders (SUD)
    • Anger Management
    • Insomnia
    • Divorce Recovery
    • Relationship Concerns and Couples Counseling
    • Self-Esteem
    • Therapy for Therapists
    • LGBTQA+ Support
    • Faith-Based Counseling
  • Providers
    • Erin Mitchell
    • Pamela Heilman
    • Katie Sheehan
    • Hillary Gorin
    • Lee Ann Heathcoat
    • Adam Ginsburg
    • Megan Noren
    • Sarah Williams
    • Christina Bieche
    • Bridgette Koukos
    • Laura Lahay
    • Anna Perkowski
    • Alma Lazaro
    • Leah Arthur
    • Erin Blair
    • Amy Jakobsen
    • Lizzy Lowe
    • Gerry Lawm
    • Melanie Vause
    • Caroline Dress
    • Kevin Hamor
    • Abby Jeske
    • Vanessa Osmer
    • Kat Harris
  • Locations
    • North Aurora Counseling
    • Sycamore Counseling
    • Telehealth Online Counseling
  • Contact
  • Treatments
    • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
    • Exposure and Response Prevention
  • Employment
  • FAQ and Notices
  • OakHeart Blog
  • Administrative and Leadership Team
  • Mental Health Resources
  • Divorce Mediation
  • Professional Consultation