Voicelessness and Emotional Survival > Voicelessness and Emotional Survival Message Board
Should therapists self-disclose?
Meh:
I'm too tired and lazy to read the articles right now. Is there some kind of evidence that shows there is a tangible improvement in the patient's outcome as the result of the therapist's disclosure?
I think if there is evidence that the outcome for the patient is increased positively (not just perception of validation) after therapists disclosure then YES therapists should consider doing this. If there is no real positive outcome improvement for the patients when the therapist self discloses then I think NO it should not be added into the therapeutic model.
I wonder how much the benefits of disclosure are related to the specific therapy goals. Maybe disclosure helps some goals but not others.
sKePTiKal:
"Officially" and publicly, as in the media? That seems to be the issue here, rather than in the T-client relationship. On the one hand, it could be positive marketing "branding" of the doc as having personal experience (and this implies additional expertise) in the subject problem. But, in T... it's the working methods and personal relationship between the "partners" that's most important. I find the idea that a therapist is an all-knowing, all-powerful Oz who has all the answers and the magic ability to "fix" me... well, it's off-putting. Yet, I think we all start the process with that stereotype in our minds.
It could also work in a negative branding fashion -- as in physician, heal thyself FIRST. Before trying to help others. Many folks would have trust issues with someone who flat out admitted they were human and fallible and had their own issues.
Personally, I don't think a T's personal history is relevant to being able to guide a client through the process of learning a new balance within themselves. You reach out, steady them, help them find their balance... then slowly, give them the room to realize they can move around just fine, without wobbling and falling again. That doesn't require the T to have experienced vertigo, you know?
BonesMS:
I'm going to respond from the standpoint of being on "both sides of the fence", so to speak, regarding the question: "Should therapists self-disclose?"
From my point of view....it depends. I've dealt with one therapeutic professional who basically wasted my time talking about himself, his culture, his views, his values, his beliefs, and how I SHOULD do "blah-and-so" simply because I'm female! That gives me reason to suspect he's a Narcissist! (Didn't understand NPD back then.) He also attempted to force me to relinquish going to 12-Step Support groups because: (a) it made him jealous and (b) HE would control my addiction FOR me! (While he's pressuring me to start taking benzodiazepines again KNOWING FULL WELL MY HISTORY OF ADDICTION TO THEM!) All of the above factors led me to my decision to terminate him as a therapist as he was clearly NOT hearing me! (Why pay the expense of seeing a mental health therapist if they continuously REFUSE to LISTEN and HEAR what you have to say in therapy sessions?)
On the other hand....
When I worked, for a short time, in a substance abuse treatment facility, I did not disclose that I am also in recovery. I felt I was not there to talk about myself or to focus the spotlight on me. Eventually, my clients figured it out and asked me point-blank: "Are you in recovery from alcohol and/or drugs?" I would smile and inquire: "Why do you ask?" The response would almost always be: "Because you recognize my bullsh*t and call me on it! I can't bullsh*t you like I bullsh*t my friends and family! You get it!" Then we will BRIEFLY discuss my history while emphasizing, we are here to talk about YOU and WHY you are in treatment, I am NOT here to talk about ME! Your time is more valuable than that!.
Just my two-cents.
Bones
Guest:
"Should therapists self-disclose?"
If nothing else, open information about a T prior to therapy might help weed out the real people from the charlatans/Ns/exploitative dickheads/children acting as Gods/plain nutters etc etc.
Yes, some personal life information upfront can't hurt. But therapy can be like trying to fix a problem in a Microsoft program - you have to know the general answer to the question before you start otherwise you don't know what to search for in the 'help' section.
As for disclosing during therapy - that's a different matter.
I didn't read the articles.
Dr. Richard Grossman:
In my view, the single most important “basis” of therapy (for non-personality disordered people) is that the therapist “gets it”, i.e. understands the patient’s suffering (both at a knowing and feeling level), and conveys this understanding convincingly back to the patient.
Why is this important? Because it is difficult and not very helpful to form a genuine attachment to a therapist who doesn’t “get it”. And, in my experience, it is this unique two-way attachment that reduces suffering and ultimately leads to healing.
Is therapist self-disclosure useful in this process? Self-disclosure of a particular painful common (to both parties) life event/situation can sometimes be exceptionally reassuring to a patient that he or she truly “gets it.”
(As Bones says above, however, sometimes because the therapist “gets it” so well, patients already know…)
More to follow…
Richard
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