Best 10 Books About Self Harm

1. Freedom from Selfharm

By Kim Gratz, Alexander Chapman

This complete guide to stopping self-injury gives you the facts about self-harm, corrects common myths about this behavior, and provides self-soothing techniques you can begin using right away for regulating difficult or overwhelming emotions.

2. The DBT Skills Workbook for Teen Self-Harm

By Sheri Van Dijk MSW

This workbook will guide you through four essential DBT skills:

• Mindfulness shows you how to experience emotion without having to act on it
• Distress tolerance teaches you how to deal with the urge to self-harm
• Emotional regulation allows you to understand and control painful feelings
• Interpersonal effectiveness helps you build self-respect and minimize feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness

3. Treating Suicidal Clients & Self-Harm Behaviors

By Dr. Meagan N Houston

This complete resource is filled with proven assessments, unique worksheets and action-based methods to help your clients navigate and survive the turbulent periods of their lives where suicidal and/or self-harm behaviors appear to be their primary options to cope.

4. The Mindfulness Workbook for Teen Self-Harm

By Gina M. Biegel MA LMFT, Stacie Cooper PsyD

In this workbook, you’ll learn about the power of mindfulness, and how it can help you create your own special space for simply being with your thoughts. When you’re dealing with difficult emotions, you’ll have this safe space to go to again and again—no matter where you are or what you’re doing. You’ll learn how to be mindful of your senses, techniques for managing difficult feelings before they escalate, and move past self-judgment to embrace self-compassion and self-awareness.

5. Cutting: Understanding and Overcoming Self-Mutilation

By Steven Levenkron

Using copious examples from his practice, Steven Levenkron traces the factors that predispose a personality to self-mutilation: genetics, family experience, childhood trauma, and parental behavior. Written for sufferers, parents, friends, and therapists, Cutting explains why the disorder manifests in self-harming behaviors and describes how patients can be helped.

6. Understanding and Responding to Self-Harm

By Allan House

Showing the various forms self-harm can take, this book explores the reasons behind it, and offers advice on self-management, support to others, and what services are available. Full of clear, thoughtful advice for those who may be thinking of harming themselves, or have already done so, as well as guidance for families and friends on helpful strategies and responses – and ones to avoid – it uses evidence from research and direct experience to provide an essential resource.

7. Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide

By Barent W. Walsh

This trusted practitioner resource is acclaimed for its clear, compassionate, and hopeful approach to working with clients who self-injure. Barent Walsh provides current, evidence-based knowledge about the variety and causes of self-injurious behavior, its relationship to suicidality, and how to assess and treat it effectively. Illustrated with detailed case examples, chapters review a wide range of cognitive-behavioral interventions.

8. The Parent’s Guide to Self-Harm

By Jane Smith

This book provides the answers you need to questions such as:

– How do I know for sure whether my child is self-harming?
– How should I approach my child?
– What help and treatment is available to us?
– What can I do to help my child?
– How have other parents coped?

9. Self-Love Journal for Teen Girls

By Cindy Whitehead

This journal for girls includes: 

• 4 areas of self-love—Support teen girls in every aspect of life with affirmations and prompts divided into four key pillars of self-love: self-awareness, self-worth, self-respect, and self-care.
• Creative activities—Girls will put what they learn into practice through thought-provoking exercises like writing a love letter to themselves, creating a gratitude jar, and drawing the things that make them happy.
• Uplifting quotes—Words of wisdom from strong female role models are sprinkled throughout the book to offer teen girls even more guidance for their self-love journey.

10. Self-Love Workbook for Women

By Megan Logan MSW LCSW

What sets this self-care journal and workbook apart from other self-love workbooks for women:

• Proven techniques—Fall in love with yourself using a variety of compassionate exercises rooted in mindfulness and positive psychology.
• Inspiring prompts and motivating activities—Explore all that you are with quizzes and journaling exercises that will help you tap into your emotions and let go of limiting beliefs. Includes writing space for reflection and introspection.
• Empowering affirmations—Boost your positivity and nurture yourself using the uplifting affirmations interspersed throughout the book.