Expert Counselling for Self-Harm Calgary
Curio Counselling provides self-harm counselling Calgary for adults and teens who hurt themselves to cope — and for the parents and partners trying to help someone who does — in person at our Beltline office (1414 8 St SW Suite 200) and online across Alberta. Our self-harm counselling team includes Registered Psychologists regulated by the College of Alberta Psychologists and Canadian Certified Counsellors certified by the CCPA, working with DBT and CBT — the approaches with the strongest evidence for self-harm — to build emotion-regulation skills that do the job self-harm has been doing, without the harm, alongside trauma-informed, play, and art therapies for teens who can’t yet put it into words. Telling someone is the hardest step, and for most adults it does not mean hospitalization or broken privacy: book a free, no-obligation 20-minute consultation — you don’t need the right words to start — sessions are $200 with a Canadian Certified Counsellor and $230 with a psychologist.
Understanding Self-Harm
Self-harm, also known as self-injury or self-mutilation, refers to the intentional act of inflicting harm or injury to one’s own body.
It is often a coping mechanism used to manage overwhelming emotions or distressing situations.
Self-harm behaviours can take various forms, including cutting, burning, hitting, or scratching oneself.
While self-harm may provide temporary relief from emotional pain, it can lead to serious physical and psychological consequences if left untreated.
Symptoms, Causes, and Warning Signs
Symptoms of self-harm:
- Presence of unexplained cuts, bruises, or burns on the body
- Keeping sharp objects, such as razors or knives, in personal belongings
- Wearing clothing that conceals body parts
- Unexplained injuries that don’t match a stated cause
- Increased need for privacy or unexplained changes in self-care routines”
- Withdrawal from social activities or relationships
- Difficulty managing emotions and expressing feelings
- Withdrawal from physical activities, swimming, or situations involving exposed skin, particularly in seasons where covering up is unusual
Why it Happens
Causes of self-harm:
- Past trauma or abuse
- Mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, or borderline personality disorder
- Low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness
- Difficulty coping with stress or emotional pain
- Peer pressure or influence from others engaging in self-harm behaviours
What to Look Out For
The warning signs of self-harm:
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
- Talking about or romanticizing self-harm behaviours
- Engaging in secretive or ritualistic behaviours
- Experiencing frequent mood swings or emotional instability
- Displaying signs of depression or anxiety
Best Treatments for Self-Harm
At Curio Counselling, we utilize a combination of therapeutic approaches to address self-harm behaviours and promote healing:
- Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns and develop healthier coping strategies to manage distressing emotions.
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): DBT focuses on teaching mindfulness, emotion regulation, and interpersonal skills to help individuals reduce self-harming behaviours and improve overall well-being.
- Trauma-Informed Therapy: For individuals with a history of trauma or abuse, trauma-informed therapy helps address underlying trauma and its impact on self-harm behaviours.
- Supportive Counselling: Our therapists provide a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore their feelings, address underlying issues, and develop effective coping mechanisms.
Additional Support at Curio Counselling
In addition to individual counselling for self-harm, we offer a range of support services to meet your needs:
- Group therapy sessions for peer support and connection
- Family therapy to address underlying family dynamics and improve communication
- Psychoeducation workshops to learn more about self-harm and develop skills for managing triggers and urges
Curio Counselling's Approach to Counselling
At Curio Counselling, our approach to counselling is client-centred, compassionate, and collaborative. We believe in meeting you where you are and tailoring our interventions to your unique needs and goals. Our therapists provide a safe and non-judgmental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, and experiences freely.
What to Expect During a Counselling Session:
- Initial Assessment: Your first session will typically involve an initial assessment where your therapist will gather information about your presenting concerns, personal history, and treatment goals. This helps us better understand your needs and develop a customized treatment plan.
- Building Trust and Rapport: Building a trusting therapeutic relationship is essential for effective counselling. Your therapist will create a warm and welcoming environment where you can feel comfortable expressing yourself openly and honestly.
- Exploration and Insight: In subsequent sessions, you’ll work collaboratively with your therapist to explore underlying thoughts, emotions, and patterns of behaviour contributing to your self-harm. Through guided discussions and therapeutic exercises, you’ll gain insight into the factors influencing your self-harm behaviours.
- Skill Building: Our therapists will teach you practical skills and coping strategies to manage distressing emotions, reduce self-harm urges, and develop healthier ways of coping with challenges. This may include relaxation techniques, emotion regulation skills, and problem-solving strategies.
- Processing and Healing: Counselling provides a space for you to process past traumas, address unresolved issues, and work towards healing and resolution. Your therapist will support you through this process, offering empathy, validation, and encouragement along the way.
- Monitoring Progress: Throughout your counselling journey, your therapist will regularly assess your progress and adjust treatment as needed. Open communication and feedback are encouraged to ensure that you’re receiving the support and guidance you need to thrive.
Trustworthy and Non-Judgmental Therapists
At Curio Counselling, our therapists are highly trained and experienced in working with individuals struggling with self-harm behaviours.
We understand the sensitive nature of self-harm and provide a safe and supportive environment for you to explore your feelings and experiences.
You can trust that our therapists will listen to you with empathy and without judgement, helping you feel heard, understood, and supported throughout your counselling journey.
Book a Free,
20 Minute Consultation
Whether you are considering accessing counselling services for the first time, or hoping to find a therapist who is new to you, we want to make the process as simple and straightforward as possible.
That is why we offer a free, no-obligation, 20-minute phone or video consultation with the Calgary therapist of your choice.
Our Calgary Therapists for Self-harm
All of our Calgary therapists hold a Master of Counselling degree from an accredited university and are members in good standing with either the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) or the College of Alberta Psychologists (CAP).
Counselling Therapist
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Registered Provisional Psychologist
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Canadian Certified Counsellor, Counselling Therapist
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Canadian Certified Counsellor, Registered Nurse
Registered Psychologist
Canadian Certified Counsellor
Registered Psychologist Calgary
The Safe Space
Our counselling spaces are designed to make you feel comfortable and safe. Upon entering a counselling room, you are welcome to choose whichever seat you would like. Feel free to put your feet up, drape a blanket over yourself, or even lie down.
Our Location
You can expect to be greeted by our receptionist, invited to take a seat in our waiting area, and offered a beverage.
References & Further Reading
National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Self-harm.
https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Common-with-Mental-Illness/Self-harm
Psychology Today. (n.d.). Self-harm. https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/basics/self-harm
NHS Inform. (2023, May 3). Self-harm. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/mental-health/self-harm
Cleveland Clinic. (2023, May 9). Self-harm (nonsuicidal self-injury disorder).
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12201-self-harm
Schimelpfening, N. (2023, January 27). An overview of self-harm and cutting. Verywell Mind.
https://www.verywellmind.com/self-injury-and-cutting-1065420
Frequently Asked Question About Self harm
Self-Harm Therapy in Calgary: Frequently Asked Questions
Honest answers to the questions people are often most afraid to ask — about privacy, what treatment involves, and how to take the first step.
For most adults, the answer is no, and this fear is one of the biggest reasons people delay seeking help. Self-harm on its own is something therapists work with every week — it is treated as a coping pattern to understand, not an emergency to escalate.
Confidentiality does have specific limits, and your therapist will explain them clearly in your first session before you share anything: broadly, they involve an imminent risk to your life or someone else’s, or a child at risk of harm. For clients under 18, therapists build trust by giving teens appropriate privacy while keeping parents informed about safety and progress — exactly how that works is explained to both of you up front.
Self-harm and suicidal behaviour are clinically separate. They sometimes co-occur, but they have different functions, different risk levels, and different treatment pathways. Most self-harm is what clinicians call non-suicidal self-injury — a way of coping with overwhelming emotion, not an attempt to end life.
Because the two can overlap, your therapist will always ask directly and without judgment about both. If you are having thoughts of suicide right now, please don’t wait for an appointment: call or text 988 anywhere in Canada, available 24/7.
The fact that self-harm “works” in the short term is exactly why it’s so hard to stop, and why willpower alone usually isn’t enough. It briefly interrupts unbearable emotion — and anything that brings relief, even at a cost, gets reinforced and repeated.
That’s why effective treatment doesn’t rely on “just stop.” Approaches like DBT teach emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills that do the same job — interrupting overwhelming feelings — without the harm, so the urge itself weakens over time.
Choose the person carefully. It doesn’t have to be everyone. Start with one person who has shown they can handle hard information. Pick a calm moment, say as much or as little as you’re ready to, and it’s okay to tell them what you need from them — even if that’s just “listen, don’t panic, don’t lecture.”
You don’t have to do this alone or first: many people tell their therapist before anyone else, and your therapist can help you plan the conversation — or, where it helps, be part of it.
Yes, full recovery from self-harm is realistic and common, and the research is clear on this. Most people who self-harm stop — especially with treatment that replaces the coping function rather than just forbidding the behaviour.
Recovery isn’t always a straight line; a setback after progress is part of the process, not proof it isn’t working. What matters is that the skills keep building, urges become less frequent and less powerful, and life gets bigger than the cycle.
Self-harm therapy at Curio is priced by your therapist’s designation: $200 per session with a Canadian Certified Counsellor and $230 with a Registered Provisional or Registered Psychologist. Your initial 20-minute consultation is free.
Many Alberta extended health plans cover counselling or psychology services in full or in part — check your plan’s coverage for your provider’s designation, and we’ll provide receipts for reimbursement.
Both. Curio offers in-person sessions at our Beltline office and secure virtual sessions across Alberta. Our office is at 1414 8 St SW Suite 200, Calgary, and video sessions work well when distance, schedules, or simply feeling safer at home make in-person harder.
You can book a free consultation in either format and switch later if your preference changes.
Being scared to reach out is one of the most normal parts of this, and you don’t have to have the words figured out before you start. “I’ve been hurting myself and I want it to stop” is more than enough — and you don’t even have to say that on day one.
The smallest possible step is a free, no-obligation 20-minute consultation by phone or video — or, if calling feels like too much, book online without speaking to anyone. Your therapist will take it from there, at your pace.
Curio Counselling is not a crisis service. If you need immediate support, call or text 988 (Suicide Crisis Helpline, anywhere in Canada), call the Calgary Distress Centre at 403-266-4357 (24/7), or call 911 for a medical emergency.