Exploring an Online Self-Injury Support Group: Perspectives From Group Members

In this qualitative study, the authors explored an online support group for individuals who self-injure. Twenty members of a private and moderated online group responded to questions about their history of self-injury and experiences with the online self-injury support group. Themes emerged related to the relational and emotional aspects of self-injury, the therapeutic connections in the group, experiences with no triggering norms, and strategies for asynchronous group interaction. The authors provide recommendations for counselors and group leaders.

[1]  B. Walsh Self-Injury in Youth: The Essential Guide to Assessment and Intervention , 2009 .

[2]  John Powell,et al.  Information in mental health: qualitative study of mental health service users , 2006, Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy.

[3]  E. D. Klonsky Non-suicidal self-injury: an introduction. , 2007, Journal of clinical psychology.

[4]  M. Patton Qualitative evaluation and research methods, 2nd ed. , 1990 .

[5]  C. Sinclair,et al.  Codes of ethics and standards of practice. , 1993 .

[6]  L. Baker,et al.  Internet use and stigmatized illness. , 2005, Social science & medicine.

[7]  J. Horrigan Online communities: Networks that nurture long-distance relationships and local ties , 2001 .

[8]  Matthew D. Selekman,et al.  “It's My Drug”: Solution-Oriented Brief Family Therapy with Self-Harming Adolescents , 2001 .

[9]  R. Connors Self-Injury: Psychotherapy with People Who Engage in Self-Inflicted Violence , 2000 .

[10]  M. Nock,et al.  Self-injury. , 2020, Annual review of clinical psychology.

[11]  A. Mewse,et al.  The role of women's self‐injury support‐groups: a grounded theory , 2007 .

[12]  N. Heath,et al.  A Study of the Frequency of Self-Mutilation in a Community Sample of Adolescents , 2002 .

[13]  Christy K. Scott,et al.  Pathways in the relapse--treatment--recovery cycle over 3 years. , 2005, Journal of substance abuse treatment.

[14]  N. Heath,et al.  Self-Injury in Youth : The Essential Guide to Assessment and Intervention , 2008 .

[15]  J. Creswell Qualitative inquiry and research design: choosing among five traditions. , 1998 .

[16]  J. Myers,et al.  Wellness, Prevention, Development: The Cornerstone of the Profession , 1992 .

[17]  Anselm L. Strauss,et al.  Basics of qualitative research : techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory , 1998 .

[18]  Michael Moyer,et al.  Investigating and Understanding Self-Mutilation: The Student Voice. , 2007 .

[19]  N. Kanas The theory and practice of group psychotherapy. , 2011, International journal of group psychotherapy.

[20]  J. Muehlenkamp Empirically Supported Treatments and General Therapy Guidelines for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury , 2006 .

[21]  J. Muehlenkamp Self-injurious behavior as a separate clinical syndrome. , 2005, The American journal of orthopsychiatry.

[22]  S. Prayer Alcoholics Anonymous. , 1978, Lancet.

[23]  J. Peregoy,et al.  Guidelines for Writing a Qualitative Manuscript for the Journal of Counseling & Development , 2004 .

[24]  Patricia A. Adler,et al.  The Cyber Worlds of Self-Injurers: Deviant Communities, Relationships, and Selves , 2008 .

[25]  Janet Morahan-Martin,et al.  Information and Misinformation Online: Recommendations for Facilitating Accurate Mental Health Information Retrieval and Evaluation , 2000, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[26]  J. Whitlock,et al.  The virtual cutting edge: the internet and adolescent self-injury. , 2006, Developmental psychology.

[27]  B. Walsh,et al.  The Scarred Soul: Understanding and Ending Self-Inflicted Violence Bodily Harm: The Breakthrough Treatment Program for Self-Injurers , 2000 .

[28]  J. Pennebaker Writing About Emotional Experiences as a Therapeutic Process , 1997 .

[29]  Heather C. Trepal Exploring Self‐Injury Through a Relational Cultural Lens , 2010 .

[30]  M. King The Theory and Practice of Group Psychotherapy, 4th ed , 1996 .

[31]  B. Walsh,et al.  Self-Mutilation: Theory, Research, and Treatment , 1988 .

[32]  I. Goodyer,et al.  Non-suicidal self-injury , 2011, European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.

[33]  M. Prinstein,et al.  A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior. , 2004, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology.

[34]  V. Kress,et al.  Students who Self-Injure: School Counselor Ethical and Legal Considerations , 2006 .

[35]  G. Martin,et al.  Cutting on-line: Self-injury and the internet , 2010 .

[36]  B. Walsh Treating Self-Injury: A Practical Guide , 2005 .

[37]  S. Haberstroh,et al.  Self-Injurious Behaviors on the Net: A Survey of Resources for School Counselors. , 2008 .

[38]  J. Whitlock Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents , 2010, PLoS medicine.

[39]  M. Crowe,et al.  Repeated self-injury and its management , 2000 .

[40]  D. Haldane Treating Self-injury: A Practical Guide , 2013 .

[41]  V. Kress,et al.  Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Motivational Interviewing: Enhancing Readiness for Change , 2008 .

[42]  BODILY HARM , Archiving Mexican Masculinities in Diaspora.

[43]  Janis Whitlock,et al.  The internet and self-injury: what psychotherapists should know. , 2007, Journal of clinical psychology.

[44]  M. Patton,et al.  Qualitative evaluation and research methods , 1992 .