I'm actually a therapist and after many years in practice am tying up the loose ends by researching the most challenging mental illnesses treatable by therapy. Self harm is one of them, and I hope to first analyse the motivation behind it (overlaps with addictions and many other negative image problems such as body dysmorphic syndrome) and then try and undo it using cognitive methods. The current treatments almost seem to rely on medication and therapy barely touches the edges of it.
It seems partly a desperate scream for attention and basically a drawn out fake suicide attempt. It also appears to be used as a false route to self esteem as sufferers pretend their 'power' in damaging themselves somehow makes them important. I'm surprised how little is known about these problems which drove me to do something about it.