Our philosophy and approach to self injury treatment

Therapy for those showing self injurious behaviour is based upon an understanding of a person-centred approach. Each individual client is treated with dignity and afforded genuine unconditional positive regard, all within a climate of openness and honesty. The  objective of Newcombe House is to help each young person value herself in a way that insight becomes possible.

We believe that once an individual understands the motives that underlie their difficulties, they can both begin to take control over, and take responsibility for, their behaviour and its consequences. An emphasis is placed on allowing young people to make choices in a way that maximises their opportunities to make good choices.

We understand self-injurious and self-destructive behaviour as a maladaptive coping mechanism, not a negative personality trait or, in itself, a symptom of psychopathology.

Newcombe House
Bisley Old Road, Stancombe, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL6 7NF
Tel: 01452 771241
Fax: 01452 771240
Email:

Unit Manager (Registered): Mark Newton BSc, Dip SW, EDM
Consultant Clinical Psychologist: Janet Hardman
Specialist Medical Advisor: Dr Shiraz Akoo MBChB
Operational Lead: Martin Davies RMN

Only when a person has positive strategies for dealing with their distress will difficult and self-destructive behaviours diminish. We believe that when a person experiences their own potential and capacity to change they begin the process of resolving their internal conflicts. This gives them the opportunity for sustained recovery.

As part of the therapeutic approach of Newcombe House we operate a Safe Tolerance approach to self-injury. This is a partnership approach agreed with the client in an Alliance Agreement. Each young person details the coping strategies that they have (including self-injury) along with the stressors that provoke negative responses. Building on to what they already have, alternatives to self-injury are agreed. These include distraction techniques (such as baths with oils, candles and relaxing music) and activities that mimic some of the sensations associated with self-injury (such as holding cubes of ice against the arm, which causes pain but no injury). The client agrees to utilise all alternatives first, even in time of the greatest stress. They are actively supported to do this. However, the recovery process can be both time consuming and ‘uneven’.

In circumstances where alternative coping strategies are not enough, within the Alliance Agreement, safe parameters for self-injury are agreed as a last resort. If the client then self-injures, she is supported to explore and understand this therapeutically as part of the recovery process, rather than being admonished or punished for failing.

We try to ensure that each individual, regardless of their difficulties, experience a non-institutionalised environment in terms of a warm and comfortable home setting and positive relationships with staff and peers. The approach is both non-rejecting and understanding. This provides the basis of a safe environment through which the past and the underlying motives behind their difficulties can be explored.

Specific therapeutic interventions are eclectic and include cognitive behaviour therapy, schema-focused therapy, person-centred counselling and creative therapies.