Helping Teens Who Cut: Understanding and Ending Self-Injury

Discovering that their teen “cuts” is absolutely terrifying for parents. Without a clear understanding of what motivates cutting, many worry their teen may be contemplating suicide. Michael R. Hollander, a leading authority on teen self-injury, gives parents the straight facts about this alarming behavior--and explains what they can do to make it stop. Drawing on years of clinical practice and the latest research, Dr. Hollander shows how overwhelming emotions lead some teens to hurt themselves, and how various treatments--chief among them dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)--can provide effective routes to wellness. Parents learn what to look for in a therapist, how to talk to their teen about cutting without making it worse, and practical strategies for helping their teen cope with extreme emotions in a healthier way. Helping Teens Who Cut also provides much-needed suggestions for reducing stress and improving family communication and problem solving.