Ms. McLane’s perspective on SIV sees it as a gestural communication of that which the trauma victim cannot express through her actual voice. As normal speech is nullified as a result of past abuse experiences, the survivor who turns to SIV is turning to her body for connection. The author writes: “ . . . self-inflicted violence continues life by organizing the abuse survivor’s embodied world and telling her story. It is for this reason that I characterize self-mutilation as the creation of a voice on the skin.” She weaves her explanations with examples from the poetry and prose of survivors. She concludes that SIV is likely a steppingstone in the process of growing into having one’s voice, the representation of healing. I recommend this article to all interested in the topic, especially to those needing a refreshing and brighter perspective on SIV than that found in the world of mental health.