Non- Suicidal Self-Injury
A Framework-Driven, Modality-Informed Approach to Effective Intervention
- Speaker:
- Nicolle Carr, PhD
- Duration:
- 3 Hours 08 Minutes
- Language:
- Presented in EN, subtitles in EN and FR, handouts in EN and FR
- Format:
- Audio and Video
- Copyright:
-
Jan 22, 2026
- Product Code:
- POS150523
- Media Type:
- Digital Seminar
Description
“Why would they do that to themselves?”
If you’ve ever asked that question after learning a teen is cutting, burning, or harming themselves in other ways – you’re not alone.
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is more common than most realize, with studies estimating up to 1 in 5 students have engaged in some form of self-harm. And while teachers, counsellors, and clinicians are increasingly on the front lines of this silent epidemic, most feel unprepared to respond.
And the truth is, your response can change the outcome.
In this training, you’ll learn:
- What drives adolescents to hurt themselves – beyond the myths and misconceptions
- How to respond to disclosure in ways that reduce shame and build trust
- CBT and DBT strategies, coping plans, and school-based supports to provide both immediate and long-term safety
Led by behavioral neuroscientist and seasoned expert, Dr. Nicolle Carr, this course gives you practical tools to spot warning signs, engage compassionately, and work in partnership with students, families, and mental health teams to build hope and healing.
Whether you’re in the classroom, the counselling office, or clinical practice, you’ll leave with a clear, actionable roadmap for supporting teens who self-injure – without judgment, fear, or helplessness.
Credit
Program Information
Planning Committee Disclosure - No relevant relationshipsAll members of the PESI, Inc. planning committee have provided disclosures of financial relationships with ineligible organizations and any relevant non-financial relationships prior to planning content for this activity. None of the committee members had relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies or other potentially biasing relationships to disclose to learners. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
NOTE: Tuition includes one free CE Certificate (participant will be able to print the certificate of completion after passing the online post-test (80% passing score) and completing the evaluation). Instructional methods will include PowerPoint, didactic lecture, and others.
Continuing Education Information: Listed below are the continuing education credit(s) currently available for this non-interactive self-study package. Program content is reviewed periodically per accrediting board rules for currency and appropriateness for credit. Credit approvals are subject to change. Please note, your licensing board dictates whether self-study is an acceptable form of continuing education, as well as which credit types are acceptable for continuing education hours. Please refer to your licensing board's rules and regulations. If your profession is not listed, please contact your licensing board to determine your continuing education requirements and check for reciprocal approval.
For other credit inquiries not specified below, please contact info@pesi.com or 800-844-8260 before purchase.
Materials that are included in this course may include interventions and modalities that are beyond the authorized practice of your profession. As a licensed professional, you are responsible for reviewing the scope of practice, including activities that are defined in law as beyond the boundaries of practice in accordance with and in compliance with your profession's standards.
For Planning Committee disclosures, please see the statement above. For speaker disclosures, please see the faculty biography.
Earn up to 3.0 CE hours. Please see below, for more details, as credit amounts vary by jurisdiction and profession.
PESI, Inc. is approved by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association to offer continuing education for counsellors and psychotherapists. PESI, Inc. maintains responsibility for the program. This self-study activity is approved for 3.0 credit hours.

PESI, Inc., #1062, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: January 27, 2026 - January 27, 2029. Social workers completing this course receive 3.0 Clinical continuing education credits.
Course Level: Intermediate Format: Recorded asynchronous distance. Full attendance is required; no partial credits will be offered for partial attendance.
Canadian Social Workers: Canadian provinces may accept activities offered by providers approved by the ASWB ACE program for ongoing professional development.
This self-study activity qualifies for 3.0 continuing education clock hours as required by many national and local licensing boards and professional organizations. Save your activity advertisement and certificate of completion, and contact your own board or organization for specific requirements.

This self-study course has been approved by PESI, Inc., as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for educational credits. NAADAC Provider #77553. PESI, Inc. is responsible for all aspects of their programming.
This self-study course offers 3.0 continuing education contact hours in the Counseling Services skill group. Full attendance is required; no partial credit will be awarded for partial attendance.

PESI, Inc. is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Nurses completing these self-study materials will earn 3.0 contact hours. Expires: 12/31/2028.
Handouts
| File type | File name | Number of pages | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual - Non- Suicidal Self-Injury (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Non- Suicidal Self-Injury - French (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Non- Suicidal Self-Injury - Italian (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Non- Suicidal Self-Injury - German (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase | |
| Manual - Non- Suicidal Self-Injury - Spanish (2.5 MB) | 30 Pages | Available after Purchase |
Speaker
Nicolle Carr, PhD Related seminars and products
R. Nicolle Carr, PhD, has served as a Director of Clinic Services for in-clinic ABA services, as an assistant clinical director at a residential program, and as a consultant for school districts regarding classroom management and individual student needs. She ran the ABA program at the University of Oklahoma for four years and her online teaching load includes courses on psychology, development, neuroscience/cognition, and behavior analysis for a variety of colleges and universities across the United States. Dr. Carr earned her Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience/psychology from the University of Texas, Austin in 2001 and has been a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst since 2008. Dr. Carr served as the secretary of the Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology of the American Psychological Association and the Ethics Special Interest Group for the Association for Behavioral Analysis International as well as the founder of the Oklahoma Association of Behavior Analysts (OKABA) and its yearly conference. She has published two books; one for teachers on the use of ABA in schools and one on ethics within behavior analysis.
Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Dr. Nicolle Carr has employment relationships with the KidsChoice Therapy and Play Center. She receives compensation as a instructor with online universities and royalties as a published author.. Dr. Carr receives a speaking honorarium and recording royalties from PESI, Inc. She has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible organizations.
Non-financial: Dr. Nicolle Carr is a member of the Applied Behavior Analysis International.
Additional Info
Program Information
Access for Self-Study (Non-Interactive)Access never expires for this product.
For a more detailed outline that includes times or durations of time, if needed, please contact cepesi@pesi.com.
Questions?
Visit our FAQ page at https://www.pesicanada.ca/faq or contact us at https://www.pesicanada.ca/contact-us.
Objectives
- Differentiate between misconceptions and evidence-based reasons for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and their impact on occupational participation and performance.
- Identify the four primary functions of NSSI using the 4-Function Model and how these functions influence intervention planning within school and clinical contexts.
- Select in-the-moment responses and school-based interventions that promote safety, reduce stigma, and support therapeutic relationships to enhance student engagement and regulation.
Outline
Myths, Missteps & Misconceptions
- What NSSI is – and what it isn’t
- Common forms: cutting, burning, scratching, skin picking
- Why it’s not “just for attention” – the real psychological drivers
- How shame, stigma, and secrecy escalate harm
- Impact of misconceptions on occupational engagement and classroom participation
- Misguided school responses that can worsen the problem
- Understand the difference between NSSI and suicide risk
Why It Happens: Understand the Function Behind the Behavior
- The 4-Function Model: emotion regulation, communication, dissociation, self-punishment
- Link function to intervention planning
- When trauma, anxiety, and neurodivergences are part of the picture
- Red flags vs. coping strategies – know when to worry
- Why typical discipline systems don’t work – and what does
Respond in the Moment: What Helps, What Harms
- First-response protocols for educators, counsellors, and clinicians
- What to say (and not say) when a student discloses
- Scripts to de-escalate shame and build trust
- Steps for documentation, collaboration, and school safety protocols
- Engage caregivers and support teams without breaching trust
Practical Tools & Treatment Strategies
- CBT and DBT strategies for managing urges and emotions
- Emotion regulation tools that can be used in school or therapy
- Sample coping plans, replacement behaviors, and safety plans
- School-based supports: what can realistically be done in your setting
- When and how to refer for more intensive care
- Case examples and handouts you can use tomorrow
Target Audience
- Counsellors
- Social Workers
- Psychologists
- School Professionals
- Educators
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech-Language Pathologists
- Other Mental Health and School-Based Professionals
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