Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide [Hardcover]

Barent W. Walsh PhD (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2005

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, posttraumatic stress disorder, personality disorders, or psychoses. Illustrated with detailed case examples, clear guidelines are presented for assessing clients and conducting evidence-based interventions using replacement skills training, cognitive-behavioral therapy, exposure treatment, psychopharmacology, and family- and school-based strategies. Reproducible clinical materials are included.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Finally there is a book that integrates the most current research in the field of self-injury with useful clinical approaches. Walsh's expertise as a researcher and clinician shines in his sensible approach to an often misunderstood and difficult topic. Through the use of case examples, research, and practical exercises, this book provides professionals with a thorough understanding of self-injury and its treatment."--Tracy Alderman, PhD, adjunct instructor, Chapman University-San Diego; author of The Scarred Soul: Understanding and Ending Self-Inflicted Violence

"Comprehensive and highly readable, this book provides what has long been needed--a thorough, compassionate, and practical guide to understanding, evaluating, and treating the complex and multifaceted behavior that is self-injury. Walsh's book is sure to become an invaluable and indispensable resource, required reading for anyone working with those who self-injure."--Caroline Kettlewell, author of Skin Game: A Memoir

"A pioneer in the field, Dr. Walsh has created a comprehensive guide to understanding and treating self-injury. His compilation of current research and his discussion of available treatment models are unparalleled. The steady rise in self-injurious behaviors makes it imperative that all clinicians be prepared to work with clients who utilize these unhealthy coping strategies. This book will be invaluable toward that end."--Wendy Lader, PhD, and Karen Conterio, Founders, S.A.F.E. Alternatives; authors of Bodily Harm: The Breakthrough Treatment Program for Self-Injurers

“Self-injury is an increasing challenge for schools and communities across the United States. Behaviors such as self-inflicted cutting, scratching, burning, hitting and excoriation of wounds are becoming a regular part of middle school, high school, and college life. Walsh provides a scholarly summary of what is known and what needs to be known to address this intense social challenge. Offering a needed perspective, the text integrates current definitions and assessment practices and summarizes the array of clinical strategies being used to address self-injury.”--Robert H. Horner, PhD, Area of Special Education, University of Oregon

"This is one of the first books to describe a cognitive-behavioral perspective on deliberate self-injury. Setting the standard for other texts that might follow, it covers an important and challenging area for clinicians. Graduate students and front-line mental health professionals will profit greatly from the compassionate approach offered by Walsh in this book."--Dean McKay, PhD, Department of Psychology, Fordham University

"Treating Self-Injury offers mental health practitioners the ultimate practice guidelines for giving competent care to those who engage in these extreme coping behaviors. This is no band-aid treatise: Walsh delivers a wise and thoughtful set of directives for reaching those who self-harm. He clearly defines their dynamics and constructs an assessment and treatment strategy that is sound and empirically based. This book deserves every clinician’s attention."--Alan L. Berman, PhD, Executive Director, American Association of Suicidology

About the Author

Barent W. Walsh, PhD, has worked with self-injuring persons since the late 1970s. He is the long-time Executive Director of The Bridge of Central Massachusetts, headquartered in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Bridge consists of over 35 programs serving emotionally disturbed, mentally ill, or developmentally delayed children, adolescents, or adults. These programs emphasize the implementation of evidence-based practice models, including dialectical behavior therapy, illness management and recovery, assertive community treatment, integrated dual disorder treatment, and wraparound services in public sector settings. Dr. Walsh has conducted research, written extensively, and presented internationally on self-injury. He has consulted on this topic at numerous schools, universities, outpatient clinics, group homes, special education programs, psychiatric hospitals, and correctional facilities. He previously taught in the Graduate School of Social Work at both Simmons College and Boston College.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 317 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (October 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1593852169
• ISBN-13: 978-1593852160
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #602,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable resource for understanding and treating self-injury, January 24, 2006

By 

Jan Sutton (Hampshire, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide (Hardcover)

In the first part of this accessible and comprehensive work, Barent does a sterling job of distinguishing the difference between self-injury and body alterations (tattoos, piercing, brands, etc.) and self-injury and suicide. Echoing my own view, he also presents a strong case for steering clear of suicidal language when referring to self-injury, for example, terms such as "attempted suicide," "suicidal gesture," and "parasuicide."

The main thrust of the book is on assessment and treatment of self-injury, for which Barent proposes an inspiring bio-cognitive-behavioural approach. Topics addressed in Part Two include contingency management, replacement skills training, cognitive treatment, body image work, exposure treatment and resolution of trauma, family treatment, psychopharmacological treatment, and managing the reactions of therapists and other caregivers to self-injury.

Later chapters deal with specific issues such as self-injury contagion, managing self-injury in school settings, and treating major self-injury.

Overall, Barent has done a masterful job of blending facts, theories, case examples, and practical exercises to create an engaging and thorough guide to understanding, assessment, and treatment of self-injury. This excellent resource deserves a well-earned place on the bookshelves of mental health practitioners, researchers, and anyone else interested in this challenging and complex behaviour.

Jan Sutton
Author of Healing the Hurt Within: Understand Self-Injury and Self-Harm, and Heal the Emotional Wounds

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Text For Therapists and Those Seeking Help, December 28, 2005

By 

C. Hutton "book maven" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide (Hardcover)

There are many self-help paperbacks already published on self-injury that are readable, helpful and under $15. "Treating Self-Injury" is written like a textbook but it is the most organized and comprehensive of all that I have seen. I would recommend it especially for school personnel or therapists who have little experience with "cutters" or those who cope through other forms of self-injury. The text would aid senior clinicians in intergrating various models into a coherent approach for treatment. The author wrote one of the first books that brought self-injury out of the medical closet, "Self-Mutilation: Theory, Research and Treatment" (1988).

Too many times, self-injury is confused with suicidal ideation and this book helps to dispell a lot of old myths. Mr. Walsh has done considerable research in synthesizing what has already has been written and wrote a "bill of rights for people who self-harm" against those myths. This is not a book that will be read in one sitting but one that the reader can consult and review. A more readable approach, though more narrow and less comprehensive, is "Cutting" (1999) by Steve Levonkron (as a matter of full disclosure, I once did a conference with Mr. Levenkron years ago). "A Bright Red Scream" (1998) by Marlee Strong remains the classic in this field.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for Self Injury-a bit pricey, but worth it!, December 13, 2007

By 

lin squire "lsm" (Saratoga Springs, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide (Hardcover)

This book by Barent Walsh is an excellent resource for understanding the many facets of Self Injury (SI), and for being able to move beyond SI as a means of coping. It contains case studies--real life situations with a variety/diversity of ages, genders and backgrounds. Walsh writes for the clinician, but this book is a gem for those who struggle with SI and for those who want to help/treat/support those who struggle with SI. It is a mature and compassionate book. While the price may present as prohibitive (a bit pricey), it's worth every penny. The book is up-to-date, practical and proves insightful into seemingly confusing behaviors. I highly recommend this book, along with Robin Collins, Dusty Miller, et al...