Self-Harm Related Content

Video: Addressing and Preventing Self-Harm in Kids & Teens

Growing up is difficult, and can result in a barrage of overwhelming thoughts and emotions in kids and teens. Self-harm is a way that they may try to cope with strong feelings they’re experiencing—but it’s also a sign of serious distress, may point to other mental health concerns, and could have...

Video: 3East – McLean’s DBT Programs for Teens

For some young people, it can be challenging to navigate everyday life. Some may struggle with worrisome thoughts or risky behaviors. Some may have trouble navigating relationships or emotions. Many may be encountering mental health symptoms that they cannot manage on their own. The 3East programs...

What Is Teen Cutting and Self-Injury?

Public understanding of self-injury or “cutting” in adolescents has grown in recent years. Many studies and media reports have called attention to this teen mental health concern, resulting in less confusion and ignorance. Despite this progress, many misconceptions about self-injury remain. For...

Deconstructing Stigma: We Save Each Other

The following story features Mary S., a participant in our Deconstructing Stigma: Changing Attitudes About Mental Health public awareness campaign. Told through the eyes of its participants, this campaign boldly challenges the misconceptions of what those with mental health conditions look like and...

Staff Profile: Karen L. Jacob, PhD

Karen L. Jacob, PhD, is the program director of the Gunderson Residence. She received her PhD in clinical psychology from Clark University and completed her post-doctoral training at Cambridge Health Alliance at Harvard Medical School. Her clinical training has been primarily in cognitive behavior...

Staff Profile: Erin Clement, LICSW

Erin Clement, LICSW, attended Merrimack College where she received a BA in Psychology in 2003. She began working at McLean Hospital in 2003 as a community residential counselor at the Adolescent Acute Residential Treatment (ART) Program. In 2005, Ms. Clement began working as a clinical educator in...

Staff Profile: Blaise Aguirre, MD

Blaise Aguirre, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. He is a trainer in, and specializes in, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) as well as other treatments such as mentalization-based treatment (MBT) for borderline personality disorder and associated conditions. He is the founding medical...

Staff Profile: Jill Nowak, MSW, LICSW

Jill Nowak, MSW, LICSW, is an independently licensed clinical social worker and the director of admissions and referral liaison for 3East’s residential DBT program, which treats adolescents and young adults struggling with emotion dysregulation, depression, trauma, and self-endangering behaviors...

The Transformative Power of DBT for Young People

Adolescence can be an incredibly turbulent period of life. Physical changes, academic pressures, social struggles, and emotional upheaval can weigh heavily on a teenager’s mental health. Unfortunately, this often results in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, impulsiveness, and even...

Suicide Prevention

Although it is not possible to predict suicide with any certainty, our best tool is recognition of the signs that many people exhibit when contemplating suicide. The following three behaviors should prompt you to seek immediate help for yourself or a loved one: Talking about wanting to die or to...

Staff Profile: Ralph J. Buonopane, PhD

Since 2000, Ralph J. Buonopane, PhD, has led the McLean-Franciscan Child and Adolescent Inpatient Program at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton. The program brings together a team of colleagues from the two hospitals to meet the needs of youth in severe psychiatric crisis. Long recognized...

Staff Profile: Denice Cronin, PsyD

Denice Cronin, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist at the McLean SouthEast Adolescent Acute Residential Treatment (ART) Program and associated partial hospital program. She provides individual, family, and group psychotherapy, completes psychological evaluations, and supervises psychology trainees. Dr...

Staff Profile: David Shalit, LICSW

David Shalit, LICSW, has been a clinical therapist/case manager at McLean SouthEast’s Adolescent Acute Residential Treatment Program since 2015. Mr. Shalit earned his MSW in 2008 and has been credentialed as an LICSW since 2011. He has dedicated his professional career to the human services field...