11.5 Self-Disclosure

Counselors communicate personal things to clients both directly and indirectly all the time. Clients learn indirectly about their counselor from their style of dress, the presence or absence of a wedding band, or how they respond to conflict. Counselors can also actively and directly communicate with clients about personal details, aspects of their identity, professional events/ accomplishments, their reactions to events or client reports, etc. When a client shares something that evokes a reaction in the counselor, the counselor has different ways of responding. They could immediately state the reaction to the client, note it internally, and move on, or say something like, ‘I’m having a reaction to that, and I’m wondering what you think about that’, to name a few. There are many options for navigating self-disclosure; often, there can be compelling reasons to do so. These include enhancing rapport, increasing mutual connection with a client, showing empathy and non-judgment, and furthering therapeutic work (Barnett, 2007). Self-disclosure can also model empowerment and utilizing one’s voice and story, which provide therapeutic benefits if they align with the person’s treatment goals. Prevalence and meaning of self-disclosures may also depend on the counselor’s theoretical orientation. For example, feminist-oriented counselors utilize self-disclosure to live out their value of authentic connection and healthy power dynamics (Barnett, 2007). Counselors work with different populations and different needs. When working with clients who identify with oppressed groups, counselors may find self-disclosure helpful to even out the power dynamics, promote counselor visibility, communicate understanding, and then process reactions to the disclosure and explore symbolic meanings that come up (Barnett, 2007). Self-disclosure for these purposes is likely in the best interest of the client. Counselors document their decision-making processes to support their use of self-disclosure with clients.

Self-disclosure within a professional counseling relationship is inherently a question of boundaries. Because of the range of topics and potential for client harm, self-disclosure introduces ethical questions that should be explored using an ethical decision-making framework. If mishandled, self-disclosure can tread into dual personal relationship territory by introducing another role or overly personal aspects to the professional relationship. This negatively impacts the client’s counseling work. To evaluate, counselors consider self-disclosure on a spectrum of countertransference to boundary crossings and violations.

To reiterate, boundary crossings are usually benign, hold the client’s best interest at heart, and provide therapeutic benefit. Any thoughtful self-disclosure that prioritizes client welfare is considered ethical counseling practice. Counselors are responsible for ongoing self-monitoring as they engage in counseling work with clients to determine in real-time if their self-disclosures are ethical and beneficial to their client and their treatment goals. They constantly self-reflect on present-moment awareness, feelings, and sources of activation and file it away to stay attuned to the client. Examples of potentially healthy self-disclosure include sharing reactions or the presence of a reaction to a client’s troubling story.

On the other hand, some counselors’ self-disclosure can constitute boundary violations. This means it violates the client’s rights, is not for their benefit, and hinders counseling progress. Counselors should avoid sharing personal information that does not provide therapeutic benefit, that is motivated by a counselor’s own needs, interests, or discomfort, is not indicated by their concerns or treatment plan, and that causes any exploitation, threat, intimidation, or harassment to the client (Barnett, 2007). If counselors act in these ways, they are acting against the core ethical principles of counseling (namely beneficence and non-maleficence) and are likely committing an unethical boundary violation.

Self-Disclosure of Recovery Status

In substance use disorder treatment, counselors may be faced with questions about whether to disclose their recovery status. They consider their professional boundaries along with ethical codes. Disclosing recovery status can inherently change a client’s perceptions of the counselor, the client’s sense that the counselor can or cannot help them based solely on life experience, and the therapeutic relationship overall. Often, counselors may have to make this decision in real-time, though they can prepare beforehand how they may approach these situations. Counselors are mindful of their intentions and reactions when disclosing.

Additionally, sharing recovery status can introduce a dual relationship with the client. Counselors consider the timing of the self-disclosure, the context, and the intentions around sharing. They may reflect upon questions such as: Is sharing this information in the client’s best interest? Am I sharing this out of my own needs or comfort? Are there other elements to the counseling relationship beyond similar recovery status/ lived experiences with a client? How might this change the dynamic of the counseling relationship?