A Therapist's Self-Disclosure and Its Impact on the Therapy Process in Cross-Cultural Encounters: Disclosure of Personal Self, Professional Self, and/or Cultural Self?

Abstract

Although controversial, a therapist's self-disclosure has been increasingly considered to have a positive effect in therapy. However, there has been little discussion around disclosing therapists’ culturally embedded values and their impact on assessing, assimilating, and changing culturally diverse clients. Due to the implicit nature of culture within the self, it is challenging for social workers to bracket a powerful cultural influence in their practice. Using critical theories of language and discourse, this article analyzes two case examples from recorded therapy sessions between White therapists and clients of color to illustrate how therapists disclose their personal, professional, or cultural self in assessing clients’ presenting issues and selecting interventions. The case examples suggest that self-disclosure can involve problematic therapy interactions based on cultural assumptions.