Contracts

Contracts are written or verbal agreements made between a therapist and a client. In the therapeutic setting they are usually employed as a means of managing or decreasing a particular behaviour. Generally, the contract stipulates that the client will perform some action (e.g. call the therapist) before engaging in the detrimental behaviour (Alderman, 1997; Connors, 2000).

Contracts should be used very cautiously with students who engage in self-harming behaviours and are generally not recommended, especially ones that focus on stopping the behaviour. Self-harm is typically not life threatening and as it serves an important function in coping with their deeper underlying issues, it would be unwise to ask the student to simply stop self-harming. A contract such as this can be a setup for failure, imbuing a lack of control in the student, which will increase the likelihood of self-harming behaviours whilst fostering shame and dishonesty in the therapeutic relationship. Contracts are often made to appease the fears and desires of the therapist, rather than the student (Alderman, 1997; Connors, 2000).

However, contracts can be useful if the agreement specifies a proactive behaviour rather than the total cessation of self-harm. For instance, a contract could require the student to phone at least one person before self-harming. This contract does not demand the cessation of self-harm, yet it does present a behaviour that will hopefully decrease the likelihood of self-harming.

Self-harm Contract

I, [young person’s name] , agree to contact at least one adult (e.g. Parent, Aunt, Student Welfare Coordinator, Teacher, Psychologist) before I actually hurt myself. This person need not be _________ [Contractor] __ ; however I may contact [him / her] ___________ if I desire. This contract will be effective for a period of [one week] , beginning on the date indicated at the bottom of this page.

Young Person’s signature Date

Contractor’s signature Date



This contract was adapted from Alderman, T. (1997). The scarred soul: Understanding and ending self-inflicted violence. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger.