🕊️ Self-Harm & Suicidal Thoughts
🌿 Finding Safety, Understanding, and Hope at Every Age
If you or someone you love is in immediate danger, please call 911 or 988 (the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or go to your nearest emergency department.
You are not alone — help is available right now.
💭 Understanding Self-Harm & Suicidal Thoughts
When emotional pain feels unbearable or unending, it can become difficult to see a way forward. For some, that pain leads to self-harming behaviors — actions meant to release distress or regain a sense of control. For others, it may lead to thoughts of wanting to die or not exist, which can feel terrifying and isolating.
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we view these experiences not as signs of weakness, but as signals that someone has been carrying far too much, for far too long. We offer compassionate, professional support to help clients of all ages find safety, relief, and new ways to heal.
🌱 What Is Self-Harm?
Self-harm (also called non-suicidal self-injury) is when someone deliberately hurts themselves — such as cutting, hitting, or burning — without intent to end their life. It’s often a way to cope with overwhelming emotions, numbness, shame, or trauma.
Common reasons people engage in self-harm include:
Trying to manage intense emotions or mental pain
Feeling emotionally “numb” and wanting to feel something
Punishing themselves out of guilt or shame
Regaining control in situations that feel chaotic
Expressing emotions they can’t put into words
While self-harm doesn’t always mean someone is suicidal, it’s a serious sign of emotional distress that deserves care, not judgment.
⚡ What Are Suicidal Thoughts?
Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, wishing for, or planning one’s death. These thoughts can range from passive wishes (“I don’t want to be here anymore”) to active plans.
Suicidal thoughts often arise from deep exhaustion, hopelessness, or feeling like a burden — not necessarily a true desire to die, but a desire for the pain to stop.
Our therapists help clients understand and manage these feelings with safety, compassion, and clear steps toward stability and hope.
If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, reach out now:
📞 988 – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7)
💬 Text 988 for chat support
🧠 Why Self-Harm or Suicidal Thoughts Happen
These struggles are complex and deeply personal, often influenced by a mix of emotional, psychological, and environmental factors.
They can be connected to:
Depression, anxiety, or mood disorders
Trauma or abuse
Grief, loss, or major life changes
Chronic stress or burnout
Loneliness or isolation
Family conflict or relationship issues
Low self-esteem or identity struggles
Co-occurring conditions such as ADHD, PTSD, or substance use
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we focus not only on reducing risk, but on helping individuals understand the why behind their distress — building awareness, compassion, and lasting coping strategies.
🌿 How Therapy Helps
Therapy provides a confidential, nonjudgmental space to talk openly about thoughts and behaviors that often feel too heavy to share. We use evidence-based, trauma-informed care to help clients find safer ways to cope and to rebuild a sense of hope and control.
Therapy may include:
Identifying emotional triggers and warning signs
Learning alternative coping and grounding strategies
Replacing self-harming behaviors with healthy regulation tools
Addressing underlying trauma, grief, or shame
Strengthening problem-solving and distress tolerance
Building self-compassion and connection
Developing a personal Safety Plan for moments of crisis
We tailor our approach for each client — children, teens, or adults — ensuring care is age-appropriate, empowering, and collaborative.
👨👩👧 Family & Loved-One Support
When someone you love is hurting, it’s natural to feel helpless, frightened, or unsure of what to do. We help families and partners understand these struggles and respond in ways that promote safety and healing, not shame or panic.
We support loved ones to:
Recognize warning signs of distress
Communicate calmly and compassionately
Build safety plans and healthy boundaries
Access community and crisis resources
Manage their own emotions and stress during the process
Families don’t have to walk this road alone — help, understanding, and recovery are possible.
🤝 Our Approach to Care
At Mara’s Lighthouse, we take an integrated, whole-person approach to safety and healing.
We collaborate closely with physicians, psychiatrists, schools, and families when needed to create coordinated, effective care plans.
Our care may include:
Individual therapy (youth, adult, or family-focused)
Crisis safety planning
Trauma-informed and mindfulness-based therapies
In-house prescriber support for medication when appropriate
Referrals for higher levels of care if safety requires it
Every step is taken with empathy, confidentiality, and the goal of restoring hope and stability.
🌼 Rebuilding Hope
Healing from self-harm or suicidal thoughts is not about never feeling pain again — it’s about learning to face pain safely, with support and connection.
Small steps toward healing:
1️⃣ Reach out. You don’t have to do this alone.
2️⃣ Create a safety plan. Structure helps in crisis moments.
3️⃣ Practice self-compassion. You deserve the care you give to others.
4️⃣ Stay connected. Healing happens through relationships.
5️⃣ Hold on to hope. Change is always possible.
💙 At Mara’s Lighthouse, we walk beside you — through the dark moments, toward safety, connection, and light.
💖 If You Need Immediate Help
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please reach out now:
📞 988 – Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7)
💬 Text 988 for chat support
🌐 Visit 988lifeline.org
🚨 If in immediate danger, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.
Your life matters. Help is here — and healing is possible.