European American therapist self-disclosure in cross-cultural counseling.

Abstract

Abstract:Eleven European American psychotherapists' use of self-disclosure in cross-cultural counseling was studied using consensual qualitative research. As reasons for self-disclosing, therapists reported the intent to enhance the counseling relationship, acknowledge the role of racism/oppression in clients' lives, and acknowledge their own racist/oppressive attitudes. Results indicated that therapists typically shared their reactions to clients' experiences of racism or oppression and that these self-disclosures typically had positive effects in therapy, often improving the counseling relationship by helping clients feel understood and enabling clients to advance to other important issues.For some time, therapists and researchers have recognized the importance of therapist self-disclosure (TSD) to therapy and the powerful effect it may have for the therapeutic relationship (Hill & Knox, 2002). Different theoretical orientations, however, have not always enabled agreement on the use of TSD in therapy. For example, therapists in the psychodynamic tradition often seek to limit their self-disclosures so that information about the therapist does not hinder the process of uncovering and resolving client transference (Jackson, 1990). In contrast, therapists from humanistic and existential orientations support the use of self-disclosure to demystify psychotherapy (Kaslow, Cooper, & Linsenberg, 1979) and to promote therapist authenticity and genuineness (Jourard, 1971). Likewise, cognitive-behavioral therapists also believe that TSD can have a positive effect during treatment. For example, TSD can normalize client struggles, illuminate effective coping strategies, provide clients with feedback on how they interpersonally affect others, and even model the process of self-disclosure itself. More recently, cross-cultural counseling theorists have also suggested that TSD be used to convey the therapist's sensitivity to cultural and racial issues, which may result in an increase of trust, greater perception of therapist credibility, and an improved therapeutic relationship with culturally diverse clients (Helms & Cook, 1999;Sue & Sue, 2003). However, minimal research exists in which the actual use of TSD in cross-cultural counseling is investigated. Such research is necessary, however, to examine whether and how TSD may influence the development of cross-cultural counseling relationships.2 Burkard, Knox, Groen, Perez, & Hess DefinitionNumerous theorists have offered varied definitions of TSD (e.g., Hill, Mahalik, & Thompson, 1989;Jourard, 1971;McCarthy & Betz, 1978;Watkins, 1990). What each definition shares is the recognition that TSD occurs when the therapist verbally reveals personal information about herself or himself. Thus, for this study, we excluded nonverbal disclosures that are unintentional, such as office décor and surroundings, or therapist nonverbal behaviors.Commonly recognized characteristics of TSD also include sharing information that would not normally be known by the client, with such interventions invo...

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