The “risky” intervention: Twinship selfobject impasses and therapist self-disclosure in psychodynamic psychotherapy

Abstract

This article examines therapist self-disclosure from the perspective of self psychology. Resistance to therapist self-disclosure in the traditional psychodynamic literature is reviewed and recent research pertaining to therapist self-disclosure is discussed. Twinship selfobject needs and the impasses resulting from these in psychotherapy are examined. Therapist self-disclosure is proposed as an appropriate intervention for such impasses. Two cases are presented to illustrate such interventions and the potential dangers and gains inherent in therapist self-disclosure are discussed.