1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«This paper seeks to unearth the complicated issue of self-mutilation in adolescent females and provide considerations to the therapists when working with clients engaging in this self-destructive behavior by illuminating the predictors, contributing factors and research pertaining to self-cutting.» (p.52)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
Données documentaires diverses

Type de traitement des données :
Réflexion critique

3. Résumé

This article «[...] describe[s] and define[s] the phenomenon [of self-mutilation in adolescent females], briefly review[s] some of the explanatory theories and research, and discuss[es] treatment options. The authors advocate both individual and family therapy as the most viable option for working with this population. The integration of both modalities of treatment [are] illustrated in three case studies by the first author. Trained as both a creative art therapist and marital and family therapist, she [describes] her experience in working with adolescents who self-mutilate and their families.» (p.52) She pretends that «[i]ndividuals who engage in self-mutilation tend to have a lower self-esteem than their non-mutilating counterparts and are often highly intelligent, sensitive, good listeners, good students and the caretakers of their family and friends [...]» (p.60) and claims that «[...] concurrent individual and family therapy appropriately models adolescents’ developmental task by balancing parents’ responsibility to protect and understand their children with the individual’s need to develop separately and find his respective place in the broader world.» (pp.60-61)