The role of therapist self-disclosure in psychotherapy: a survey of therapists.

Abstract

The use of self by the therapist, generally referred to as therapist self-disclosure, and its potential impact on the therapeutic process, continues to be an important and contentious area of interest and inquiry. In contrast to most research in our field, which concentrates on the patient, in this investigation it was the therapist, and her/his beliefs, attitudes, and reported behaviors that served as the primary focus. The literature shows quite a few studies regarding the theoretical aspects of therapist self-disclosure but studies concerning actual psychotherapy are rare. The intent of this article is to focus on the practice of psychotherapy in an attempt to comprehend more fully one aspect of it: therapist self-disclosure.