How to deal with negative emotions in a healthy way

Hi Nicholeen, How do you know when to get counseling involved for a child who says they hate themselves and inflicts physical harm to themselves when they are overcome with negative emotion? My dear friend is dealing with this with his 8 year old boy, and I wanted to ask you if you have any insights in this type of situations.
Self government and the parenting skills you have taught us have made such a positive impact in our home, and I would love the same for them.
They are thinking about getting him a counselor, but don't know how does one even find a good counselor that will guide them into truth not indocrinate woke!/ modern ideology and also not immediate medication. Do you have any criteria to identify a good counselor?
Thank you in advance for your guidance