ABSTRACT

Eating disorders (ED) are rooted in shame, secrecy, withdrawal, black-and-white thinking, and doubting of interpersonal impact and effectiveness. It is these characteristics that makes therapeutic self-disclosure (TSD) a particularly worthwhile consideration in ED treatment. While research in this area is limited, findings converge in a manner suggesting a relationship between ED psychopathology and recurring benefits of TSDs put forth by therapists intending to emotionally reach out to the client, communicate the therapist’s emotional presence and responsiveness, challenge self-defeating assumptions, generate insights relevant to ED recovery, and in a manner that is maximally empathic and well-attuned to the client’s individualized needs. Both general TSDs to ED clients and the therapist’s personal history of ED (i.e., ED-TSD) were consistently regarded by clients as helpful. Available research suggests that a generally higher level of therapist activity and TSD is recommended with ED populations, albeit with cautions against insincere or confrontive TSDs, and a need to regularly consult, seek supervision, and reflect upon TSDs to ensure appropriate motives, examine impacts, and explore intersectionality considerations. Both the potential benefits and cautions of TSD in contexts of ED are magnified by the high numbers of therapists who work with ED clients and have personal histories of ED.