Recognizing and treating self-injurious behaviors in teens

“Is it weird that I cut myself on purpose?”

A 14-year-old girl from a local middle school asked me this question at work last week. In my years as a Teen Xpress counselor, I have been asked about self-injurious behaviors many times.

They ask:

“What is it about?”

“Isn’t it just a way to get attention?”

“Why would someone do that?”

“Are they trying to kill themselves?”

It’s not only teens that ask about self-injury. I’ve …

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