Self-harm (SH) is deliberate injury inflicted by a person upon his or her own body. Some scholars use more technical definitions related to specific aspects of behavior. This injury may be aimed at relieving otherwise unbearable emotions, sensations of unreality and numbness, or for other reasons. Self-harm is generally a social taboo. It is listed in the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States, that is Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), as a symptom of Borderline Personality Disorder and is sometimes associated with mental illness, with a history of trauma and abuse, with eating disorders, or with mental traits such as perfectionism. There is a positive statistical correlation between self-harm and emotional abuse.

In June of 2006, the Pastoral Counseling Center, sponsored its staff to participate in a course offered by Cross Country Education   about " Self-Mutilation Behavior in Youth and Adults: Causes, Treatment and Prevention ". Following are short summaries of learned lessons from some of our counselors who attended the seminar presented by Joseph Shannon, PhD ( read bio ).

Click the name to access the summaries by:

1. Gabriel Rueda – Intern at Pastoral Counseling Center of Flushing (PCCF)
   
2. Tom Hui - Staff Counselor at PCCF
   
3. M. Katherine McEwen L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W. - Staff Counselor at PCCF
4. Careen Chang L.C.S.W. - Staff Counselor at PCCF
5. Berenice S. La Motta L.S.W. - Staff Counselor at Pastoral Counseling Center of Kearny (PCCK)