ABSTRACT
The concept of 'Therapist self-disclosure' is one that often elicits some form of professional discomfort for most of us. Throughout our academics and training, self-disclosure is reinforced as a factor that creates boundary and ethical issues and needs to be avoided. Specifically, there is the polarization of the orthodox Freudian stance of never disclosing as it demystifies the Therapist and inhibits projections and transferential opportunities, whereas in the more humanistic, especially relational therapies, Therapist self-disclosure is not as structurally implemented. The typical response to this type of intervention has always been positive for me with respect to a client. It appears to normalize what he or she is experiencing and gives hope that Another person, whom they theoretically respect, had a similar issue and worked it through. This intervention can be loaded with contraindications as boundary and ethical violations could easily be manifested.
