The demand for a third edition of Healing the Hurt Within makes quite a statement about the role of self-injury in our society. There is no debate that self-injury is a behaviour that has become much more visible in society over the past several years. Whether this is just a media created mirage or an actual increase in the number of people hurting themselves still remains to be verified through research. Nonetheless, interest in the field of self-injury continues to grow and the need for quality information on this behaviour is enormous.

Those who are hurting themselves, those who are helping self-injurers in a professional capacity, and those who care about people who intentionally hurt themselves are finding themselves at a loss when seeking comprehensive written material that explains, educates, and offers hope regarding these behaviours. Jan Sutton’s third edition of Healing the Hurt Within is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know more about this mystifying and often misunderstood behavior.

You’ll find that the third edition of Healing the Hurt Within is dramatically different from the previous edition. Throughout, the stigma associated with self-injury is reduced and many of the myths and misconceptions regarding the behaviour are clarified and corrected. Jan Sutton explores the reasons why people hurt themselves and the cyclic nature of this act. Noting the impact of trauma on self-injury, this edition of Healing the Hurt Within contains a chapter specifically dedicated to this topic. The role of dissociation in relation to self-injury is also explored more fully as well.

Each chapter is loaded with current research, case studies, and helpful ways to understand this complex topic. Throughout the text, Jan weaves quotations, passages, and stories from those who are most familiar with this topic: those who intentionally hurt themselves. These powerful passages will captivate you and give you a glimpse into the world of the self-injurer: from hurting to healing to helping others.

With her vast experience and decades of work as a counsellor, researcher, trainer, and author, Jan creates a truly comprehensive guide to understanding self-injury and providing information designed to help those who are hurting themselves. The third edition of Healing the Hurt Within is without question an inclusive and indispensable book about self-injury.

Tracy Alderman, Ph.D.
Author of The Scarred Soul: Understanding and Ending Self-Inflicted Violence
Co-Author of Amongst Ourselves: A Self-Help Guide to Living with
Dissociative Identity Disorder