Service Detail

The Self-Harm Outpatient Service (SHOPs) is a specialist and national self-harm service. We provide two years of intensive longer-term psychotherapy for adults experiencing complex and enduring problems relating to self-harm or other forms of self-destructiveness. These behaviours are understood and worked with in the context of difficulties in relationships, early adversity and experiences that may include trauma. We work with people to help them understand how turning to self-destructiveness can serve as a way of coping with underlying problems. We provide a setting that can help people bear intense and disturbing experiences.

We are involved in outcome research in psychotherapy and our clinical work is undertaken by senior and experienced psychotherapists, and supervised mental health practitioners.

Individuals appropriate to this service often make frequent use of emergency services or multiple care agencies. Many have been diagnosed as having a personality disorder, and may also have suffered from eating disorders, depression, complex trauma or alcohol and substance misuse. For many, their emotional problems and difficulties in forming mutually satisfying relationships can be linked to adverse experiences in early life and contribute to longer term complex problems.