When practiced mindfully and appropriately, self-disclosure in treatment can strengthen the therapeutic alliance while evoking empathy and building trust. Training and consultation can help clinicians learn if, when, and how to self-disclose. Some self-disclosure may be unavoidable, such as appearance, mannerisms, office environment, and nonverbal communication. Practicing self disclosure with mindful boundaries and a focus on the client can be a powerful intervention for normalizing their experience and creating a safer space for self-exploration.

 

Learning Objectives:

- Identifying risks and benefits of self-disclosure 

- Incorporating disclosure in the form of empathy 

- Identifying the different types of disclosure

- Understanding boundary issues with self-disclosure

- Adhering to solid boundaries when self-disclosing