The major contributions of the two books lie in their practical exercises and self-help techniques. Dr. Alderman is a psychologist who has done extensive work with self-injuring clients. The Scarred Soul employs an instructional format, with 49 different activities distributed throughout its ten chapters. Early in the book, the self-help activities consist of a series of questions that the self-injuring reader is encouraged to answer, often in writing. These questions are designed to help self-mutilators understand why they injure themselves and what the results of the behavior are, including its benefits, such as reducing tension and ending dissociation, and its negative consequences, such as scarring and social isolation. Later in the book, the activities focus on learning new ways to communicate, manage affect, and substitute healthier behaviors for self-injury.