Help for Suicidal Thoughts & Self-Harm
Compassionate, evidence-based therapy for life-threatening behaviors
If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts, urges to self-harm, or other risky behaviors, you know how overwhelming and frightening it can feel. These experiences are more common than many realize—and they deserve to be met with understanding, not judgment.
At Atlanta Counseling Collective, we use
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
a highly researched, structured treatment to help people reduce dangerous behaviors, find relief from emotional pain, and build a life worth living.
Understanding Suicidal Thoughts & Self-Harm
Self-harm and suicidal thinking can develop for many reasons: intense emotional pain, feeling hopeless, difficulty coping, or wanting to feel some control. While the reasons differ, one thing is clear—these are serious warning signs that require specialized care.
Common risky behaviors we treat include:
Ongoing suicidal thoughts or plans
Suicide attempts
Self-harm (cutting, burning, hitting)
Impulsive or dangerous behaviors during emotional distress
Severe mood swings or emotional overwhelm
Why We Use DBT for Risky Behaviors
DBT was originally developed for people experiencing chronic suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behaviors. Research shows DBT significantly reduces suicidal behaviors, self-harm, and psychiatric hospitalizations.
Our DBT program focuses on:
Life-Saving First: Safety is the top priority—we address suicidal and self-harm behaviors before anything else.
Skills Training: Learning new ways to manage intense emotions, handle crises, and reduce impulsive actions.
Support & Coaching: Between-session phone coaching to help apply skills in real-life moments.
Therapist Consultation: A team-based approach to ensure you receive the best possible care.
How DBT Helps
DBT teaches skills in four main areas:
Mindfulness – Staying present without judgment
Distress Tolerance – Surviving crisis moments without making things worse
Emotion Regulation – Understanding and managing intense feelings
Interpersonal Effectiveness – Navigating relationships while respecting yourself and others
Over time, these skills replace harmful coping methods with healthy, sustainable strategies.
What to Expect in Treatment
Individual DBT therapy with a trained clinician
DBT skills group for practicing skills in a supportive environment
Ongoing safety planning and crisis response tools
Collaboration with your other providers for consistent, coordinated care
⚠ If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988. You are not alone—help is available right now.
What Therapy Looks Like With Us:
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Practical Tools
Some sessions might focus on practical tools—like coping strategies for anxiety or setting boundaries.
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Deeper Insight
Other sessions might explore deeper patterns from your past, helping you understand why you respond the way you do.
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Safe Relationship
Our therapists are warm, down-to-earth, and collaborative. We don’t sit silently and nod—we’re in it with you, asking thoughtful questions, noticing what matters, and creating a space where real change can happen.