A CQR-M Study on School Counselors' Perceptions of the Difficulties, Required Competencies, and Support Plans in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Counseling

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the difficulties, required competencies, and supportplans experienced by school counselors in the non-suicidal self-injury counseling scene. Methods: Our study conducted a survey of tirty-nine professional counseling teachers or professionalcounselors who had experience in counseling non-suicidal self-injurious students in school, and thecollected data were analyzed by a consensus team of three professors in counseling by applying amodified consensual qualitative research (CQR-M). Results: The results of this study are as follows. First, six categories of counseling internal situationsand four categories of counseling external situations were derived that were difficult for school counselorsto cope with in non-suicidal self-injury counseling. Second, for the non-suicidal self-injury counselingcompetency required of school counselors, four competency factors were derived for each area ofknowledge, skill, and attitude. Third, for external and environmental support for effective non-suicidalself-injury counseling, three support plans for clients and four support plans for counselors were derived. Conclusion: Based on our results, we suggest specific improvement plans for professional counselingteachers’training courses and continuing education to strengthen their non-suicidal self-injury counselingcompetencies.