Therapist self-disclosure in clinical and forensic contexts: the contribution of therapist attachment style, degrees of neuroticism and extroversion, and patient characteristics

Although literature on therapist self-disclosure (TSD) has been widely studied, little is known about how therapists’ personal characteristics influence its use in forensic settings. The present study examined associations among TSD, attachment style, personality traits (extraversion and neuroticism), and patient population among therapists treating survivors of sexual abuse, sexual offenders, and non-forensic patients. 181 therapists completed self-report questionnaires assessing attachment style, personality, and patterns of TSD. Emotional stability was positively associated with TSD, while avoidant attachment was negatively associated. Extraversion was not related to TSD, and no differences emerged across patient populations, suggesting that therapists’ personal characteristics may play a greater role than clinical setting in shaping disclosure decisions. Gender differences were also identified: male therapists reported greater use of insight-oriented and challenging-disclosures, whereas female decisions were influenced by gender-related and patient-specific considerations. When therapists endorse TSD but struggle to implement it, supervision may enhance self-awareness and its clinical use.PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENT The findings highlight the role of therapists’ personal characteristics, particularly attachment style and emotional stability, in shaping the use of therapist self-disclosure across clinical settings. By increasing awareness of these factors, supervision and professional training may support more intentional, flexible, and clinically attuned disclosure decisions. The study emphasises the importance of therapist self-awareness as a component of effective therapeutic practice, including work with forensic populations.