Study Nota 7 for PYC3705
Theme: Factors about self-disclosure
Self-disclosure can be a very useful skill, but only if employed properly.
Self-disclosure in counselling is when a counsellor shares their own personal views or experience with a
client with the purpose of improving the client’s emotional or mental state. It should be done solely for the
purpose of helping the client, and not to meet the needs of the counsellor. For example, if a client is upset
over their divorce, the counsellor may disclose that he/she, too, have survived a divorce. The intention
would be that the counsellor not only has a deeper understanding of the client’s situation, but might be able
to offer some insight. Counsellors must be very careful when using self-disclosure. Otherwise the session
can become more about the counsellor than the client, and that does not serve the clients’ needs.
Counsellors often disagree on what amount of self-disclosure is appropriate. As with most aspects of
counseling, there is no clear-cut “right” or “wrong.” As a counsellor, you will need to evaluate for yourself
the pros and cons to decide how much of it to integrate into your practice:
1. Pro: Self-disclosure can help to reduce the power differential between you and the client.
2. Con: The client may become too comfortable with you and begin to view you as a friend instead of a
professional helper.
3. Pro: Self-disclosure can increase trust in the counselling relationship.
4. Con: Poorly timed or executed self-disclosure can increase distrust. The client may question your
motives, or see you as getting too involved.
5. Pro: The client may feel less alone, knowing the helper has the same issue.
6. Con: The client may feel that helper is impaired.
7. Pro: The client may feel more understood, knowing the counsellor has similar experience.
8. Con: The client may feel that the counsellor is not listening, that they are more focused on their own
issues than those of the client.
Consider your client and the effect that your disclosure will have on them. For example, you probably don’t
want to self-disclose with client who has dependent personality disorder.
Theme: Factors about self-disclosure
Self-disclosure can be a very useful skill, but only if employed properly.
Self-disclosure in counselling is when a counsellor shares their own personal views or experience with a
client with the purpose of improving the client’s emotional or mental state. It should be done solely for the
purpose of helping the client, and not to meet the needs of the counsellor. For example, if a client is upset
over their divorce, the counsellor may disclose that he/she, too, have survived a divorce. The intention
would be that the counsellor not only has a deeper understanding of the client’s situation, but might be able
to offer some insight. Counsellors must be very careful when using self-disclosure. Otherwise the session
can become more about the counsellor than the client, and that does not serve the clients’ needs.
Counsellors often disagree on what amount of self-disclosure is appropriate. As with most aspects of
counseling, there is no clear-cut “right” or “wrong.” As a counsellor, you will need to evaluate for yourself
the pros and cons to decide how much of it to integrate into your practice:
1. Pro: Self-disclosure can help to reduce the power differential between you and the client.
2. Con: The client may become too comfortable with you and begin to view you as a friend instead of a
professional helper.
3. Pro: Self-disclosure can increase trust in the counselling relationship.
4. Con: Poorly timed or executed self-disclosure can increase distrust. The client may question your
motives, or see you as getting too involved.
5. Pro: The client may feel less alone, knowing the helper has the same issue.
6. Con: The client may feel that helper is impaired.
7. Pro: The client may feel more understood, knowing the counsellor has similar experience.
8. Con: The client may feel that the counsellor is not listening, that they are more focused on their own
issues than those of the client.
Consider your client and the effect that your disclosure will have on them. For example, you probably don’t
want to self-disclose with client who has dependent personality disorder.
