ABSTRACT
We investigated 185 therapist self-disclosure events in 16 cases of open-ended psychodynamic/interpersonal psychotherapy. One disclosure occurred approximately every other session, with the most frequent type being disclosure of facts. Therapists initiated 73%, and focus returned to the client following 93%, of disclosure events. Disclosures of feelings and insight were judged to be more intimate and higher in quality than were disclosures of facts. Overall disclosure occurrence was positively related to client-rated working alliance and feelings disclosure occurrence was positively related to client-rated real relationship. Factual disclosure occurrence was negatively related to working alliance and real relationship. Results suggest that disclosure is multifaceted, nuanced, and complex. Implications for practice, training, and research are discussed.
