The topic of Self-Inflicted Violence (SIV) has long frightened, perplexed, and repulsed many people, including those who work as mental health professionals. Misunderstanding and judgment are prevalent. Therefore this interview is a joy to publish. Margaret Wood, LPCC, is one of the rare, wise, and compassionate clinicians who has dedicated great effort and energy to serving those who live with SIV, as well as educating current and future therapists on this topic...read more
PDF version
My thoughts for this editorial come from paying attention to the wording of requests that I recently received for presentations. I was intrigued by their language. It is not uncommon to be asked “Can you come do a presentation about cutters?” and “Do you do trainings on managing borderlines?” I’ve become more aware of how often slang terms are used to discuss people...read more
PDF version
"Recovering from SIV" -- usually the next phrase after this topic header is "how to stop self-injury" without further thought. However, it is crucial that the terminology and definitions commonly used be explored.
This is one of the most impacting articles about SIV I have ever read, and I applaud Janice McLane for her profound work. Her writing cracks open the worlds of women’s studies, philosophy, and even linguistics to the concept of SIV, and it does so in a deeply moving and respectful way...read more
PDF version
There is greater attention being paid to the idea of self-injury lately, both in the mainstream press as well as in the mental health professional community. While awareness is increasing, there is also a great deal of misinformation about the nature of self-injury and the ways that people heal. While many consider self-injury to be indicative of insanity or attempts to simplistically manipulate others, the issue is much more complex than that...read more
PDF version
While the media is most fascinated with the stories of young white girls and women, people of both sexes, all ages, races, cultures, and sexual orientations, and from all socioeconomic backgrounds as well as professions live with SIV. Most people who self-injure begin to do so in childhood or adolescence. For some, the SIV is a single event, for most it continues for years. While some people are open about their lives with SIV, many keep it a secret. It is only in the past several years that awareness has increased about the prevalence of SIV in the lives of boys and men as well as in people from very diverse backgrounds. SIV is not a new phenomenon...read more
PDF version
The topic of "cutters" has received vast media coverage in the past few years and has become an increasingly popular subject in mental health publications. However, many of the beliefs commonly held about SIV are incorrect. These misperceptions have kept people from understanding the roots and meaning of SIV and are therefore impeding the process of healing for those who live with self-injury....
PDF version
A collection of interviews with trauma survivors.
PDF version
The Women, Co-Occurring Disorders and Violence Study was created to generate knowledge on developing effective services for women trauma survivors and their children.
PDF version
Every day, every hour, inmates in jails, prisons, and juvenile detention centers are bleeding, burning, and bruising themselves. These actions, known as Self-Inflicted Violence (SIV), are often considered to be the behaviors of the highly disturbed or pathologically manipulative, yet they are actually the most effective coping mechanisms many people have to manage their lives in the moment...read more
PDF version