A Framework for Applying Reflecting "As I f with Nonsuicidal Self-Injurious Clients Amanda C. La Guardia, Richard E. Watts, and Yvonne Garza Abstract Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) continues to be of growing concern for community and school-based counselors. Conceptual and outcome-based articles typically fo- cus on short-term cognitive behavioral interventions and NSSI behavioral indicators primarily concerning White, female clients. In furthering the discussion on working with self-injury from an Adlerian perspective, the authors conceptualize the use of an Adierian-based treatment approach, specifically the use of Reflecting "As If," with a fictional Mexican American, male client in order to address two needs: (a) con- ceptualizing and treating NSSI holistically and (b) considering culturally normative messages related to gender and ethnicity that may influence the therapeutic process. Keywords, culture. Individual Psychology, Reflecting "As If," self-injury, treatment Gabriel is a 19-year-old Mexican American man. He has lived in a vari- ety of foster homes since age seven and was never adopted by a family. After a year of working at a fast food restaurant, he decided to take advantage of state funds to attend a local community college and has recently received housing using those educational funds. Throughout middle school and high school, Gabriel often got into verbal altercations with peers, resulting in several fights that led to a need for medical attention and, at times, hospi- talization because of the severity of his injuries. He also frequently burned himself with erasers, sometimes in a group with other young men at school. Additionally, he would often punch himself in the stomach when he was angry, resulting in significant bruising. When asked about these behaviors at this time in his life, he sometimes says that he needs to fight "to be re- spected" but "deserved the pain" and that "he could handle it" because he is "a man." Gabriel never felt a strong connection to the families he lived with and did not have any long-term therapeutic relationships because of frequent movement to different foster homes throughout his childhood. His relationship with his biological family was severed when he was eight years old, and Gabriel is unaware of the whereabouts of his parents. In recent years he has managed to contact some of his biological siblings, with whom he maintains a distant relationship. The Journal of Individual Psychology,\/o\. 69, No. 3, Fall 2013 O2013 by the Uriiversity ofTexas Press Editorial office iocated in the College of Education at Georgia State University. Published for the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology.