** TW: My post briefly mentions abortion.


This article spoke to me, as I identified with Feminist theory near the tail-end of this course.   It takes self-disclosure in a few directions, and I found the examples quite helpful.  I found it so interesting because personally, in therapy I have found self disclosure from my counselor to be helpful, but never cathartic as the examples mentioned in this article.

In terms of self-disclosure, what is appropriate and what is too much? I think because it was most discussed in feminist theory, the issue of abortion sprang to my mind.  I can see how being a client seeking support either after having an abortion or while trying to decide whether or not to get one, knowing your therapist had one could be incredibly validating, and act as a model of someone who had an abortion, survived, and is now doing fine.  However, I also see how (as this article states) it could derail the conversation and end up making it all about the counselor.

They recomend that disclosures be "client-focused, validates the client’s experience and spurs further exploration. A constructive disclosure is brief, focused on meaning and light on story.".  I tend to agree with this. 

I wondered while reading the chapter to what length feminist counselors spoke about themselves or were expected to self disclose.   I like the concept increasing egalitarianism within the theraputic relationship, but found myself wondering at what point the appointment would become more of a conversation than a theraputic counseling session.

Therefore, I looked up this article.  As well as the above quote, they give the following guidelines to consider before self disclosing:

a) Is the disclosure grounded in theory?

b) Is there any other way to keep the locus of the experience within the client’s world?

c) How will the disclosure affect the therapeutic relationship?

I found the examples helpful, especially the one about the counselor dislosing to a student that he was gay.  It maintained the client as the focus, and made it a question about the client's perceptions rather than about the counselor's sexuality, as well as lowering stigma and making the client feel less alone (the initial reason most people feel the desire to disclose).   I've never been fond of the idea of transference and countertransference, and believe the idea that the counselor needs to remain a blank slate to be fairly outdated.  Do people agree, or disagree?

https://ct.counseling.org/2019/01/counselor-self-disclosure-encouragement-or-impediment-to-client-growth/