Self-harming behaviour: from lay
perceptions to clinical practice

Rayner, G; Warner, S

Abstract

Self-harm is a complex phenomena that occurs in many different settings.
Multi-factorial explanations predominate in the literature and accounts of treatment reflect this
diversity, ranging through psychobiological and psycho-social theories.This study aims to identify,
describe and interpret some of the accounts and understandings of self-harm from a cross section
of the general population and then relate this to clinical practice. Q Methodology is used to
explore various competing viewpoints of lay people in understanding and treating people who
self-harm. Eight different accounts were produced from the Explanation Q-sort. All but the
Biological account described self-harm as a coping strategy, utilized in response to feelings of
helplessness following social interaction and were therefore psycho-social in nature. There were four
treatment/policy viewpoints that were all psycho-social in nature. These were influenced by
humanistic and cognitive types of therapy and were united by the importance of empathy, positive
regard and empowerment. These viewpoints are fully explored in this study. Common themes and
factors connecting the explanations and treatment Q-sorts are discussed. These findings are then
discussed in terms

Citation

perceptions to clinical practice. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 16(4), 305-329. https://doi.org/10.1080/0951507032000156862

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2003
• Deposit Date: Nov 26, 2009
• Journal: Counselling Psychology Quarterly
• Print ISSN: 0951-5070
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 305-329
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0951507032000156862
• Keywords: Self-harm; Self-injury; Q-sort methodology
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0951507032000156862
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