ABSTRACT
The timing and decision-making process of therapeutic self-disclosure (TSD) is notably complicated, nebulous, and probably not possible to research empirically. Within the conceptual literature are indications that decisions to or not to disclose are necessarily clinical and cannot be made entirely based on predetermined rules or ways of thinking. However, the therapist in a scenario wherein TSD feels like a possibility will have a lot of information to consider in a short amount of time. Thus, a preparatory review of the relevant and available research (including perspective papers written by therapist writers, in example of wisdom from practice) is likely to be helpful. An emerging theme within the literature is that therapists best able to navigate these highly complicated clinical scenarios are those with a particular combination of personality skills, including self-awareness, tact, timing, patience, forethought, judiciousness, sensitivity, and a client-centered mindset. The literature also suggests that TSD, at least in some cases, may be helpful (a) in the early stage of therapy, for the purpose of rapport-building; (b) in a manner of acknowledging therapeutic mistakes; and (c) during termination in order to model appropriate goodbyes and solidify therapeutic gains.
