ABSTRACT
Self-harm involves the individual causing deliberate harm to their body. It can also be referred to as self-injury, self-mutilation, self-poisoning or para-suicide. Deliberate self-harm is commonly perceived as a maladaptive behaviour - a strategy for coping with feelings of intolerable distress. Self-harm is a form of communication, taken up because the client is unable to express their thoughts or feelings in an adaptive manner. The therapist must ensure that the client retains the responsibility for their self-harm. As self-harm involves the client having control over an area of their life, maintaining control should be encouraged. The therapist must invest in providing the client with healthier alternatives to self-harming. The client retains control through the whole process of self-harming. The client should have a good individual understanding of their self-harming, and will benefit from learning from others' experiences. Clients who self-harm represent a difficult and challenging group.
