Psychotherapist Self-Disclosure: Ethical and Clinical Considerations

Self-disclosure is an ever present and unavoidable aspect of psychotherapy. But, why, how, and when it is done requires careful forethought. The use of self-disclosure is discussed in the context of boundaries, highlighting its ethical and appropriate use in psychotherapy. Rather than avoiding self-disclosure out of a fear of violating ethical and professional standards, a thoughtful approach to addressing self-disclosure is presented. Recommendations for the ethical and effective use of self-disclosure are provided to include the use of ethical decision-making models and thoughtful consideration of contextual factors that include the psychotherapist's motivations, the client's treatment needs and personal history, the psychotherapist's theoretical orientation, and individual differences to include each aspect of the client's and psychotherapist's diversity. Recommendations for psychotherapists considering the use of self-disclosure with clients are made along with specific recommendations for the profession of psychology to provide greater guidance on the ethical, effective, and clinically appropriate use of self-disclosure.