Education Commons^™

Self-Mutilation : A Misunderstood Behavior, Carmon Rasmussen

Graduate Research Papers

Self-mutilation is most accurately described as the intentional harm of one's own body. Individuals engage in this behavior as a means of coping with intense emotions. The act of harming one's own body provides a release of endorphins, which provides the self-mutilator with a sense of relief. This behavior is becoming problematic within the adolescent population and a growing concern for those in the field of school counseling. School counselors need to have a strong grasp of the characteristics, functions, and intervention strategies involved with self-mutilation to be effective advocates for this population of students.