Therapist self-disclosure and the therapeutic relationship: a phenomenological study from the client perspective

Therapist self-disclosure is gaining empirical attention amidst theoretical discourse and ethical debate, particularly with regards to its influence on the therapeutic relationship. This paper presents part of a larger qualitative study that explored client experiences of therapist self-disclosure and specifically focuses on the therapeutic relationship in the context of receiving personal disclosure during therapy. Using a phenomenological approach, nine participants were interviewed about their experiences. An analysis of transcribed interviews demonstrated that therapist disclosure can have both facilitative and hindering effects with respect to the therapeutic relationship. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: early connection with therapist, therapist presence, and engagement in therapy. Implications of therapist disclosure's potential role and influence on the relationship are discussed as well as future research possibilities.