The podcast series aims to explore various aspects of children’s mental health, drawing from my extensive background in non-profit organisations, educational settings, and clinical settings. Each episode presents compelling topics designed to provide valuable insights for families, schools, and child-oriented settings.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the first episode of the „Healing Space: Play Therapy Podcast,” I had the pleasure of hosting Naomi Moore, a Play and Creative Arts Therapist and Clinical Supervisor. Naomi and I had an insightful discussion about a sensitive topic –\u00a0 ‘self-harm in autistic children’.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before we dive into the topic of self-harm, it’s essential to acknowledge the emotional gravity it holds. Self-harm is an intensely emotional subject, and if you’re reading this, it’s important to prioritise self-care as you engage with this discussion.\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
Understanding Self-Harm in Autistic Children<\/b><\/p>\n
Many reasons behind self-harm in autistic children align with those in neurotypical children. They might resort to self-harm when their experiences become overwhelmingly distressing. Self-harm can serve as an outlet for the intense, inexpressible emotions they carry, which they struggle to communicate through other means.<\/p>\n
Some children might engage in self-harm as a form of self-punishment, often due to a lack of self-acceptance or being subjected to bullying. The reasons can be diverse, and it’s essential to consider the influence of social media and peer relationships, where instances of copycat behaviour may arise. It’s important to remember that copying a behaviour doesn’t necessarily diminish its seriousness; it may indicate a different kind of distress.<\/p>\n
When we talk about self harming it is crucial to distinguish between self-harming behaviour and self-injurious behaviour. Self-harm involves a deliberate attempt to harm oneself, intending to inflict pain. Self-injurious behaviour, which is often observed in autistic children, can sometimes be categorised under self-harm, depending on the definition.<\/p>\n
Self-injurious behaviours cause harm to oneself but may lack the deliberate intent to harm. These behaviours might include head-banging or hair-pulling, and there can be significant overlap between self-harm and self-injurious behaviour, making categorisation complex. Children engaging in these behaviours are typically conveying dysregulation and distress.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Autistic children and neurodivergent often grow up feeling different in a neurotypical world, experiencing the world as more complex and struggling with acceptance. This struggle can lead to stress, worry, and traumatic experiences that may contribute to self-harming behaviours.<\/p>\n
It’s crucial to adopt a non-judgmental approach when dealing with self-harming behaviours, especially concerning copycat instances. Instead of viewing it as attention-seeking, consider it as a form of attachment-seeking behaviour. Ask yourself, „What does the child need at this moment, and how can we provide it?” Attention is a fundamental human need, and some children might believe they need to go to great lengths to secure it.<\/p>\n
When addressing self-harm in therapy, it’s important to avoid a sole focus on eliminating the behaviour. Self-harm is often a symptom of underlying dysregulation and distress in the central nervous system. Rather than immediately targeting the symptom, therapy should aim to understand and support the child’s ability to regulate their emotions. The ultimate decision to cease self-harming behaviours should come from the child themselves. Play therapy, following Axline’s principle of allowing the child to drive the change, provides a safe space for children to explore and express their emotions. It supports children in developing alternative coping mechanisms, fostering self-regulation, and promoting emotional healing. Self-harm is a complex issue, and through compassionate therapy, children can find healthier ways to navigate their emotions.<\/p>\n
For an in-depth discussion on this vital topic, I invite you to listen to the podcast episode with Naomi and me, where we delve deeper into these issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Link:\u00a0https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/ \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The podcast series aims to explore various aspects of children’s mental health, drawing from my extensive background in non-profit organisations, educational settings, and clinical settings. Each episode presents compelling topics designed to provide valuable insights for families, schools, and child-oriented settings. \u00a0 In the first episode of the „Healing Space: Play Therapy Podcast,” I had the pleasure of hosting Naomi Moore, a Play and Creative Arts Therapist and Clinical Supervisor. Naomi and I had an insightful discussion about a sensitive topic –\u00a0 ‘self-harm in autistic children’. \u00a0 Before we dive into the topic of self-harm, it’s essential to acknowledge the emotional gravity it holds. Self-harm is an intensely emotional subject, and if you’re reading this, it’s important to prioritise self-care as you engage with this discussion.\u00a0 Understanding Self-Harm in Autistic Children Many reasons behind self-harm in autistic children align with those in neurotypical children. They might resort to self-harm when their experiences become overwhelmingly distressing. Self-harm can serve as an outlet for the intense, inexpressible emotions they carry, which they struggle to communicate through other means. Some children might engage in self-harm as a form of self-punishment, often due to a lack of self-acceptance or being subjected to bullying. The reasons can be diverse, and it’s essential to consider the influence of social media and peer relationships, where instances of copycat behaviour may arise. It’s important to remember that copying a behaviour doesn’t necessarily diminish its seriousness; it may indicate a different kind of distress. When we talk about self harming it is crucial to distinguish between self-harming behaviour and self-injurious behaviour. Self-harm involves a deliberate attempt to harm oneself, intending to inflict pain. Self-injurious behaviour, which is often observed in autistic children, can sometimes be categorised under self-harm, depending on the definition. Self-injurious behaviours cause harm to oneself but may lack the deliberate intent to harm. These behaviours might include head-banging or hair-pulling, and there can be significant overlap between self-harm and self-injurious behaviour, making categorisation complex. Children engaging in these behaviours are typically conveying dysregulation and distress.\u00a0 Autistic children and neurodivergent often grow up feeling different in a neurotypical world, experiencing the world as more complex and struggling with acceptance. This struggle can lead to stress, worry, and traumatic experiences that may contribute to self-harming behaviours. It’s crucial to adopt a non-judgmental approach when dealing with self-harming behaviours, especially concerning copycat instances. Instead of viewing it as attention-seeking, consider it as a form of attachment-seeking behaviour. Ask yourself, „What does the child need at this moment, and how can we provide it?” Attention is a fundamental human need, and some children might believe they need to go to great lengths to secure it. When addressing self-harm in therapy, it’s important to avoid a sole focus on eliminating the behaviour. Self-harm is often a symptom of underlying dysregulation and distress in the central nervous system. Rather than immediately targeting the symptom, therapy should aim to understand and support the child’s ability to regulate their emotions. The ultimate decision to cease self-harming behaviours should come from the child themselves. Play therapy, following Axline’s principle of allowing the child to drive the change, provides a safe space for children to explore and express their emotions. It supports children in developing alternative coping mechanisms, fostering self-regulation, and promoting emotional healing. Self-harm is a complex issue, and through compassionate therapy, children can find healthier ways to navigate their emotions. For an in-depth discussion on this vital topic, I invite you to listen to the podcast episode with Naomi and me, where we delve deeper into these issues.\u00a0 Link:\u00a0https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1tp4tW2mGm0R4QEN4NeGyT?si=a52972d41acc4cc7&nd=1 \u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"rttpg_full_width","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2617","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-egyeb"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2.jpeg",1170,1844,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2.jpeg",1170,1844,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2.jpeg",1170,1844,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2-190x300.jpeg",190,300,true],"large":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2-650x1024.jpeg",650,1024,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2-975x1536.jpeg",975,1536,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/blog2.jpeg",1170,1844,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"sylvieveber","author_link":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/author\/sylvieveber"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"Egy\u00e9b kateg\u00f3ria<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"The podcast series aims to explore various aspects of children’s mental health, drawing from my extensive background in non-profit organisations, educational settings, and clinical settings. Each episode presents compelling topics designed to provide valuable insights for families, schools, and child-oriented settings. \u00a0 In the first episode of the „Healing Space: Play Therapy Podcast,” I had…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2617"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2746,"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2617\/revisions\/2746"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sylvieplaytherapy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}