Harm Reduction
Life’s challenges can be overwhelming; everyone deserves a space to feel heard and supported. At Roamers Therapy, we provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, LGBTQIA+ affirming, and evidence-based environments to help you heal, grow, and navigate your mental well-being journey. As your psychotherapist, we are here to guide you every step of the way.
Harm reduction refers to a range of intentional evidence-based public health practices, strategies, and policies aimed at decreasing the negative consequences of various human behaviors, namely substance use. This framework is grounded in justice and human rights, while focusing on kindness, respect, and autonomy. The end goal of harm reduction to increase positive change without coercion or disrespect.
Principles of Harm Reduction
Harm reduction is rooted in 8 principles. These principles are:
- ACCEPT that certain behaviors, such as substance use, are part of our world and community. Work towards minimizing the negative effects of behaviors rather than condemning or penalizing them.
- UNDERSTAND that behaviors fall on a spectrum ranging from totally abstinent to severe, and some behaviors are safer than others.
- ESTABLISH the quality of life as the center of successful intervention.
- CALL for non-judgmental and non-coercive services and resources in the community.
- ENSURE that members of the community that is affected have a real voice in the creation of programs designed to reduce harm.
- AFFIRM members of the community that is affected to share information about behaviors and reduce harm with other members of their community.
- RECOGNIZE that the realities of racism, poverty trauma, and other social inequities affect people’s vulnerability to certain behaviors, such as substance use.
- DO NOT minimize or ignore the real-life, tragic consequences that can come from behaviors that cause harm.
What Are The Stages of Change?
The stages of change highlight several stages an individual goes through for behavioral change to occur. Harm reduction centers choice in its framework, recognizing that all individuals engaging in behaviors that can cause harm (such as substance use) are in different stages (or places). The stage the individual is in impacts their desire, willingness, readiness, and/or ability to change. As such, providers and police must work with people wherever they are while respecting their autonomy and without passing judgment on their behaviors.
How Does Harm Reduction Help People?
Empirical evidence has found harm-reductionist strategies to be extremely helpful in addressing public health epidemics and crises. Namely, harm reduction is an effective way to minimize overdose, death, infectious diseases (like Hepatitis C and HIV), homelessness, and other health complications related to substance use. Additionally, some research suggests that the principles of harm reduction can be utilized to reduce harm in other behaviors that may impact our health and well-being.
How Can Harm Reduction Help Me?
Whether or not you use substances, harm-reduction strategies may benefit you. Harm reduction can (and might already) be woven into your therapist’s therapeutic approach. For example, the principles of harm reduction overlap with other treatment philosophies and evidence-based practices such as:
- Trauma-informed care
- Person/client-centered care
- Motivational interviewing
Find the Best Therapist in Chicago to Implement Harm Reduction Strategies
Harm reduction, or harm reduction principles, might be used in treatment to support people engaging in behaviors that might impact their mental, physical, and/or emotional health. These can include behaviors that are symptoms of a disorder or behaviors used to cope with problems and disorders.
- Substance use/dependency (e.g., alcohol, drugs, smoking)
- Self-harm
- Disordered eating
- S-xual behaviors that can lead to harm
References
- Davies, J., Pitman, A., Bamber, V., Billings, J., & Rowe, S. (2022). Young peoples’ perspectives on the role of harm reduction techniques in the management of their self-harm: a qualitative study. Archives of suicide research, 26(2), 692-706. National Coalition for Harm Reduction: https://harmreduction.org/about-us/principles-of-harm-reduction/
- Westmoreland, P., & Mehler, P. S. (2016). Caring for patients with severe and enduring eating disorders (SEED): certification, harm reduction, palliative care, and the question of futility. Journal of Psychiatric Practice®, 22(4), 313-320.
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This page is also part of the Roamers Therapy Glossary; a collection of mental-health related definitions that are written by our therapists.
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