Healing the Hurt Within: Understand Self-injury and Self-harm, and Heal the Emotional Wounds

Ms. Sutton has years of experience as a counselor and she offers a great deal of sound advice for those who want to recover from self-injury. She clearly differentiates self-injury from suicide and offers an interesting explanation regarding “the repetitive cycle of self-injury.” Ms. Sutton is particularly knowledgeable about self-injurers who have experienced trauma and she writes about this subject with great sensitivity and skill.

Perhaps most importantly, she offers many suggestions regarding “healing hints” that can help individuals deal with their emotional distress without resorting to self-injury. In addition, the book offers an extensive list of resources that may be helpful to self-injurers. This book is highly recommended for self-injurers, their significant others, and professionals who work with them.

Barent Walsh, Author of “Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide.”


Healing the Hurt Within - Highly Recommended   January 6, 2006
Fay Maxted, specialist voluntary sector worker and co-author of The Survivor's Guide to Recovery from Rape or Sexual Abuse (West Midlands, UK)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Healing the Hurt Within – Understand self-injury and self-harm, and heal the emotional wounds
This book leads the way to understanding what self-harm means for those who find themselves locked into self-harming coping strategies and for professionals working with them. It is packed with up-to-the-minute research data and support resources but is nevertheless written with the utmost respect and compassion for people who self-injure.
Using individual contributions and case studies, Jan provides a balanced overview of key therapeutic concerns. Helpful and unhelpful aspects of therapy are considered, and therapists are reminded to be aware of secondary trauma. Jan has also not been afraid to discuss controversial subjects like False Memory Syndrome and also includes a chapter on eating distress.
Case studies, interviews and illustrations are used throughout the book as powerful and moving demonstrations of the personal impact of experiencing or working with those who self-harm. Helpful healing responses and tips and strategies are also included both for those who self-harm and their supporters.
Healing the Hurt Within is a vital resource and support for anyone who is struggling with understanding what self-injury means and the role it plays in their or another’s life. Through the pages of her book, Jan allows the silenced voices to speak out.