One of the most helpful strategies for the person to adopt is that they can and will overcome this behaviour.
It is important for the sufferer to realise that they are not bad or manipulative but these cutting behaviours are often quite fixed and problematic by the time therapy is started. The therapist and client will work hard together.
It is important that the person realises that they can be in control of the behaviour, however much at the time they feel they cannot be helped and can’t stop the cutting.
A psychotherapy journal given to the client by the therapist, in which the client writes down their feelings, how successful they were in avoiding cutting etc. can be very helpful.
Each client needs a tailor-made plan that is flexible so that if some strategies do not work, they can be discarded and others inserted.