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Local support group spotlights self-injury
By Senitra Horbrook, Staff Writer
Counselor Lori Vann saw a need in the Dallas area for a support group for self-injurers and decided to fill it.
“I had given presentations and people would ask ‘do you run a group or know any groups,’” she said. “I did research there are no groups in the Dallas area.”
Vann started the DFW Self-Injury Support Group this summer to provide extra support as teen girls, boys and adult women try to deal with and overcome their urges to self-injure.
“We talk about what are your triggers. The girls have a since of security. Everyone has a history. Everyone understands what the other is going through.”
In her nine years of counseling self-injurers, Vann said the most common reason is that the emotional pain can be so bad that the physical pain is a release for it. It is estimated that 20 percent of teens have self-injured at some point in their lives.
Vann defines self-injury as the intentional harming of yourself, usually for emotional reasons.
“It can take a lot of different forms,” she said. “The most common is cutting. There’s also scratching or rubbing, burning, piercing the skin with different objects.”
Vann said guys often go with more violent methods of self-injury such as burning, hitting objects, or using objects to hit themselves.
“It’s downplayed, but they are doing it intentionally,” she said.
She said forearms are the most common spot for injury, along with the shoulders, chest area and legs. She suggests parents approach with caution if they suspect their teen is self-injuring.
“They have to watch their emotional state,” Vann said. “One of the biggest mistakes is parents become accusatory. They get mad at them. If a parent doesn’t feel they can control themselves, they should seek out a counselor.”
During therapy, Vann gives out a packet of alternatives to self-injury with a list of things teens can do to get over impulse to self-injure. Exercise, dancing and listening to music are some of those alternatives.
“If they’re feeling angry… I have them either write a letter or journal about the situation or person they’re really ticked off about,” she said. “Then they take that letter and rip it up.”
Vann said self-injury can continue into adulthood if not treated.
“Some may ‘grow out of it,’ but if they didn’t work on issues that led to it, it will continue into adulthood,” she said. “Self injury can become addictive.”
Teen girls, teen guys and women must call and speak with Vann first before attending the group. The girls’ group meets for 75 minutes every other Saturday at Carrollton Church of Christ, 4228 Josey Lane.
The teen guys’ group meets at 6 p.m. every other Wednesday evening Vann’s office, 4020 Huffines Blvd., Suite 120.
The women’s injury group will begin meeting in the fall. The exact date and time have not been set, but it will probably be Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. at the Carrollton Church of Christ.
Cost is $20 per session and receipts will be provided. Call 214-270-6966 to register. For information, visit lorivann.com.
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