Treating self-injury : a practical guide

Uniquely practical and comprehensive, this timely guide addresses a problem that is on the rise, particularly among adolescents and young adults. Practitioners gain a wealth of knowledge about the variety and causes of self-injurious behavior and how to recognize it in people at risk, ranging from those who do not have psychiatric diagnoses to those with eating or mood disorders, PTSD, personality disorders, or psychoses. Presented are clear guidelines for assessing clients and conducting evidence-based interventions using replacement skills training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure treatment, psychopharmacology, and family - and school-based strategies. Detailed case examples are featured throughout, and appendices offer essential clinical resources and tools.

Part I: Definition and Contexts. Definition, Differentiation from Suicide, and Classification. An Overview of Direct and Indirect Self-Harm. Major Groups in Which Self-Injury Occurs. Body Piercing, Tattooing, Branding, Scarification, and Other Forms of Body Modification. Part II: Assessment and Treatment. A Biopsychosocial Model for Self-Injury. Initial Therapeutic Responses. Cognitive-Behavioral Assessment. Contingency Management. Replacement Skills Training. Cognitive Treatment. Body Image Work. Exposure Treatment and Resolution of Trauma. Family Treatment. Harper, Psycho-pharmacological Treatment. Managing the Reactions of Therapists and Other Caregivers to Self-Injury. Part III: Specialized Topics. Contagion and Self-Injury. A Protocol for Managing Self-Injury in School Settings. Treating Major Self-Injury. Conclusion. Afterword. Appendix A: Breathing Manual. Appendix B: Body Attitudes Scale. Appendix C: Websites Related to Self-Injury. Appendix D: Bill of Rights for People who Self-Harm.