The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health Podcast By Nicholas J. Westers Psy.D. ABPP cover art

The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health

The Psychology of Self-Injury: Exploring Self-Harm & Mental Health

By: Nicholas J. Westers Psy.D. ABPP
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About this listen

 Why do people self-injure? And what is the best way to respond when someone tells us they self-injure? Dr. Nicholas Westers, a clinical psychologist at Children's Health and Associate Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, collaborates with the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) to interview the leading experts in the field of self-injury and self-harm as well as individuals with lived experience of self-injury and parents and family members of those who have self-injured. This podcast is meant to be a resource for parents, professionals, and people with lived experience.2021 The Psychology of Self-Injury Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Does Conflict About One’s Gender Role Predict Self-Injury?, with Dr. Moye Xin

    Does Conflict About One’s Gender Role Predict Self-Injury?, with Dr. Moye Xin
    Apr 25 2025

    In this episode, Dr. Moye Xin from Xi'an University in the Shaanxi Province of central China discusses how nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is viewed in Asia and shares his thoughts about how gender role conflict may affect rates of self-harm among university students, particularly young Chinese men. Connect with Dr. Xin on ResearchGate at www.researchgate.net/profile/Moye-Xin or visit his work on SciProfiles at sciprofiles.com/profile/1469611.

    Below are a few of his research studies referenced in this episode:

    1. Xin, M., Petrovic, J., Yang, C., Zhang L., & Yang, X. (2024). Nonsuicidal self-injury among Chinese university students during the post-COVID-19 era: analysis of sex differences and the impact of gender role conflict. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1362762.
    2. Xin, M., Zhang, L., Yang, C., Yang, X., and Xiang, M. (2022). Risky or protective? Online social support's impact on nssi amongst Chinese youth experiencing stressful life events. BMC Psychiatry, 22, 782.
    3. Yang, X., & Xin, M. (2018). "Boy crisis" or "girl risk"? The gender difference in nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior among middle-school students in China and its relationship to gender role conflict and violent experiences. American Journal of Men's Health, 12(5), 1275–1285.

    Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?:

    1. Should you or someone you know be interviewed on the podcast? We want to know! Please fill out this Google doc form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit.
    2. Want to hear your question and have it answered on the podcast? Please send an audio clip of your question (60 seconds or less) to @DocWesters on Instagram or Twitter/X, or email us at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com
    3. Want to be involved in research? Send us a message at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com and we will see if we can match you to an active study.
    4. Want to interact with us through comments and polls? You can on Spotify!

    Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter/X (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@ITripleS).

    The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."
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    50 mins
  • Lived Experience: Ben's Story of Self-Injury

    Lived Experience: Ben's Story of Self-Injury
    Mar 28 2025

    In this episode, Ben Moroski from Los Angeles, CA, shares his story of lived experience of self-injury that began at age 17 when he and his family found themselves in a religious cult. He articulately communicates therapeutic gems he has learned throughout his journey of recovery while remaining honest with how he manages persisting urges to self-harm. Watch his autobiographical solo one man play about his struggle with self-injury at https://vimeo.com/107909913, and follow him on Instagram @bmoroski.

    Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?:

    1. Should you or someone you know be interviewed on the podcast? We want to know! Please fill out this Google doc form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit.
    2. Want to hear your question and have it answered on the podcast? Please send an audio clip of your question (60 seconds or less) to @DocWesters on Instagram or Twitter/X, or email us at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com
    3. Want to be involved in research? Send us a message at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com and we will see if we can match you to an active study.
    4. Want to interact with us through comments and polls? You can on Spotify!

    Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter/X (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@ITripleS).

    The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Self-Injury Awareness Day (March 1), with Drs. Sylvanna Mirichlis & Stephen Lewis

    Self-Injury Awareness Day (March 1), with Drs. Sylvanna Mirichlis & Stephen Lewis
    Feb 28 2025
    In this episode, Dr. Sylvanna Mirichlis from Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and ISSS Past President Dr. Stephen Lewis from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada share about the origins of the annual March 1st Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD), what people around the world are doing as part of this day, and what our ISSS Stigma, Recovery, and Lived Experience Special Interest Group is doing to boost awareness of self-injury. We also share some of our favorite clips from past episodes. Self-Injury Resources:International Society for the Study of Self-Injury (ISSS) (https://itriples.org/Self-injury Outreach & Support (SiOS) (http://sioutreach.org/)Cornell's Self-Injury & Recovery Resources (SIRR) (www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu)Shedding Light on Self-Injury (https://www.self-injury.org.au/)Lewis, S. P., & Hasking, P. A. (2023). Understanding self-injury: A person-centered approach. Oxford University Press.To watch Dr. Lewis' TEDx talk about his own lived experience of self-injury on YouTube, visit https://youtu.be/G17iMOw0ar8.Timestamps for clips from past episodes:37:37 - Lived experience: Kirsty's story of self-injury & advocacy (Season 2, Episode 30)43:41 - Psychologists with lived experience of self-injury, with Dr. Sarah Victor (Season 1, Episode 9)45:25 - Self-injury stigma and language, with Dr. Penelope Hasking (Season 1, Episode 4)48:26 - Lived experience: Thomas' story of self-injury & gender dysphoria (Season 4, Episode 48)52:48 - Self-harm across cultures, with Dr. Marc Wilson (Season 2, Episode 24)56:39 - The psychology of self-injury scarring, with Dr. Taylor Burke (Season 2, Episode 31)1:01:52 - A dad & daughter discuss her lived experience of self-harm (Season 3, Episode 37)1:15:15 - Parenting youth who self-injure, with Dr. Janis Whitlock (Season 1, Episode 3)1:23:49 - Supporting siblings of individuals who self-harm, with Dr. Amy Lucas (Season 4, Episode 46)Want to have a bigger role on the podcast?:Should you or someone you know be interviewed on the podcast? We want to know! Please fill out this Google doc form, and we will be in touch with more details if it’s a good fit.Want to hear your question and have it answered on the podcast? Please send an audio clip of your question (60 seconds or less) to @DocWesters on Instagram or Twitter/X, or email us at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.comWant to be involved in research? Send us a message at thepsychologyofselfinjury@gmail.com and we will see if we can match you to an active study.Want to interact with us through comments and polls? You can on Spotify!Follow Dr. Westers on Instagram and Twitter/X (@DocWesters). To join ISSS, visit itriples.org and follow ISSS on Facebook and Twitter/X (@ITripleS).The Psychology of Self-Injury podcast has been rated as one of the "10 Best Self Harm Podcasts" and "20 Best Clinical Psychology Podcasts" by Feedspot and one of the Top 100 Psychology Podcasts by Goodpods. It has also been featured in Audible's "Best Mental Health Podcasts to Defy Stigma and Begin to Heal."
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 42 mins
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I am a professional and work in residential treatment. I was new to handling incidents on self harm from our clients & I wanted to seek understanding on this topic. This podcast is amazing & I have learned a lot to which I take with me into my practice.

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