#2 Overshare About Themselves
Clinicians are aware that self-disclosure should only occur in very specific circumstances and should always be for the client’s benefit.
It can be challenging to evaluate self-disclosure. When they feel that their therapist “gets it,” some patients react quite positively. Other clients, however, won’t benefit from self-disclosure therapy.
If a therapist continually discloses themselves without being asked and you don’t find it helpful, it may be a sign that they aren’t the perfect fit for you.
Counselor self-disclosure, when used selectively, professionally, and effectively, can develop the therapeutic relationship between the counselor and client by fostering trust and empathy. However, this practice also has the ability to stall progress and divert attention from the client. According to the American Counseling Association’s ethics specialists, it is a tool that ought to be utilized cautiously and sparingly.
