Hi there, I was thinking about this last night, oddly enough! I personally would have no problem with having a counsellor who was an ex-self harmer. I was thinking, though, that I would have an issue with a counsellor who was practicing whilst actively unwell/actively engaging in self harming behaviours. As it seems that you're completely aware, it's important to work through your own issues before becoming a counsellor, or, have good enough boundaries to be able to look after yourself when vulnerable.
I'm going off tangent, because I know this wasn't your question, but I've known therapists and nurses before who've had mental health problems, and the most important thing was that they recognised when they needed time off to recover (as anyone can relapse at any point) or other things put in place in order to safely practice.
As far as self harm scars go, I think it'd be worth discussing with your colleagues, as I wonder if different places might have different policies, and it's always worth thinking about if you have supervision/sensitivity sessions. If it was me, I wouldn't show my scars as I wouldn't want visual reminders of my past to have that sort of influence on our therapy sessions. Also I think clients' responses could go either way - some might feel triggered or uncomfortable; others might feel reassured and understood. I think that at the end of the day, though, it's your choice. If you do choose to show scars, do be open to questions about them. If you choose tattoos, make sure that you want them and are happy with them :)
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