tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post3646644372258391628..comments2023-09-01T04:57:39.981-04:00Comments on From Where I Stand: When Therapist Disclosure Can HelpAndrea B. Goldberg, LCSWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05256936997292653896noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-41457586790133660042012-02-10T01:08:06.718-05:002012-02-10T01:08:06.718-05:00Hi Carolyn,
Thanks so much for sharing how your p...Hi Carolyn,<br /><br />Thanks so much for sharing how your practice has evolved over the years. It's nice to hear from a kindred spirit!<br /><br />Warmly,<br />AndreaAndrea B. Goldberg, LCSWhttp://andreabgoldberg.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-28905332667524775752012-02-09T13:26:09.416-05:002012-02-09T13:26:09.416-05:00Hi Andrea,
Thanks so much for this post. I al...Hi Andrea,<br /> Thanks so much for this post. I also tried to be the blank slate early in my practice, but I found as you have that especially with teens and trauma survivors (or those who are both)--they need me to be emotionally present. <br /> Whether I share content or not depends on whether I think it will be helpful or a burden to the client. <br /> Thanks for your thoughts.Carolyn Stone, Ed.D.http://www.drcarolynstone.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-86811741079022129132012-02-02T17:26:16.928-05:002012-02-02T17:26:16.928-05:00Hi Dorlee,
It is really good to hear that your sc...Hi Dorlee,<br /><br />It is really good to hear that your school didn't present it as black and white. I agree that it is wise to discuss with your supervisor when you are just starting your career so you can weigh the pros and cons and make sure that you are taking all factors into consideration. <br /><br />Thanks for adding another perspective to this discussion.<br /><br />Warmly,<br />AndreaAndrea B. Goldberg, LCSWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05256936997292653896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-49114250886166523752012-02-02T11:45:55.268-05:002012-02-02T11:45:55.268-05:00Andrea,
Thanks for a thought-provoking post. This...Andrea,<br /><br />Thanks for a thought-provoking post. This is a topic that received quite a bit of discussion at my school. <br /><br />As I recall, there wasn't a consensus on the matter (different professors held different opinions). The conclusion that I drew was that you need to use your best judgment.<br /><br />I agree with what you and others have suggested that some limited self-disclosure may be warranted when you feel that it would be truly beneficial to the client and you have ruled out the possibility that you would be doing this to meet any of your own needs.<br /><br />In light of my being at the beginning of my career, I would probably feel the need to consult with my supervisor before being ready to make such a call.<br /><br />Warmly,<br />DorleeDorleeMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12095854625660993531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-20695122233648317612012-02-01T22:19:09.133-05:002012-02-01T22:19:09.133-05:00Hi Lunasea,
I admire your willingness to share yo...Hi Lunasea,<br /><br />I admire your willingness to share your story publicly in order to help convince others to seek help. It is great to hear that you have not had any negative reactions. <br /><br />Thanks for telling us about your experience and contributing to this conversation.<br /><br />Warmly,<br />AndreaAndrea B. Goldberg, LCSWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05256936997292653896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-67069372271496115462012-02-01T16:07:45.586-05:002012-02-01T16:07:45.586-05:00You're absolutely right, Andrea, it's defi...You're absolutely right, Andrea, it's definitely an individual decision, both for the therapist and also needs to be weighed with the individual needs of each client. I "came out" as being on anti-depressants on my blog, and it's my most popular post. I'm moved when search terms like "I'm embarrassed to take anti-depressants" lead people to my blog. I haven't had any negative reactions that I know of, but it wasn't an easy post to write or publish.Lunaseahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06148921520523971670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-62617136805614277202012-01-31T11:54:42.259-05:002012-01-31T11:54:42.259-05:00Hi Kathy,
Good point! I think of it as being more...Hi Kathy,<br /><br />Good point! I think of it as being more genuine. I used to sit with my hands positioned in my lap in a professional posture and tried not to show my reactions to what clients were saying. That's how I was initially trained. There were two problems with that. First of all, I was mistaken to think that my clients weren't sensing my reactions anyway. I learned that lesson the hard way when clients reacted to my reactions even when I thought I had successfully maintained a neutral facial expression. Secondly, disguising my reaction was interpreted by some clients as being unfeeling and uncaring. <br /><br />There are still some clients that would feel burdened by my emotional reactions so I am still sensitive to that possibility and adjust how much I reveal about my reactions with each client based on their individual needs.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your perspective.<br /><br />Warmly,<br />AndreaAndrea B. Goldberg, LCSWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05256936997292653896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-29517811094156035382012-01-31T11:30:27.423-05:002012-01-31T11:30:27.423-05:00Hi Kim,
welcome! You bring up a very important po...Hi Kim,<br /><br />welcome! You bring up a very important point. Cookie cutter approaches to therapy don't address the individual needs of each client. I try to be as attuned as possible to my patients' needs and encourage them to give me feedback if something I say doesn't work for them. I can be very different with one patient than I am with another, in terms of self-disclosure, method, etc. Thanks for the reminder that no therapy is one size fits all.<br /><br />Warmly,<br />AndreaAndrea B. Goldberg, LCSWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05256936997292653896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-58474830349336589642012-01-30T18:14:18.097-05:002012-01-30T18:14:18.097-05:00Hi Andrea - great insightful post! I, too, as bot...Hi Andrea - great insightful post! I, too, as both you ladies post, self-disclose sometimes, and it is to both soften the power differential and to help the clients feel there is potential for healing, and also to seem more, um human, which is a piece of softening the power differential. The friendly warm therapeutic approach works best for me as well.KathyMorellihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11964694639815237665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-32695357749754709912012-01-30T18:03:09.334-05:002012-01-30T18:03:09.334-05:00I went to therapist recently for help in overcomin...I went to therapist recently for help in overcoming chronic illness. Within 3 sessions I knew more about the therapist then I felt appropriate. I looked up a previous therapist who had treated me for childhood s/a. He had always kept a professional distance, I felt safer and comfortable. I went in for an intake a month ago due to the chronic health issues, and he has picked up where we left off 15 years ago. Obviously kept good notes and due to his professional distance I felt comfortable immediately once again. And he has already demonstrated how the lack of control and loss of power issues translate to how I deal with my chronic health issue. So, I guess my point is, it is a personal and professional choice depending on the patients needs.Kimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12550295760816614214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-81581669886914693252012-01-30T17:50:15.281-05:002012-01-30T17:50:15.281-05:00Hi Ann,
As a trauma therapist, I also pay close a...Hi Ann,<br /><br />As a trauma therapist, I also pay close attention to power issues in the therapeutic relationship. While taking a collaborative approach does not eliminate the power differential, it does seem to help my clients to view me more as a partner in healing. That has consistently helped abuse survivors to feel less out of control and more that they have choices that will be respected.<br /><br />Thanks so much for your comments about feminist theory. I appreciate your sharing your approach to decision-making about self-disclosure.<br /><br />Warmly,<br />AndreaAndrea B. Goldberg, LCSWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05256936997292653896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3207351727628492131.post-46086223893769593102012-01-30T17:27:14.965-05:002012-01-30T17:27:14.965-05:00Andrea,
I draw heavily on feminist theory in my a...Andrea,<br /><br />I draw heavily on feminist theory in my approach to therapy, and so the awareness of power in the therapeutic relationship is important to me. This has meant that, when it feels safe and appropriate, I have self-disclosed to clients. I make that decision based on whether or not I believe the self-disclosure is in the best interest of the client (yes to disclosing), or if I believe that the self-disclosure is to meet a need of my own (no to disclosing). In general, this has seemed to work well for my clients. I use my own peer supervision to be sure that I'm keeping healthy boundaries. Thanks for the thought-provoking post!<br /><br />Warmly,<br />AnnAnn Becker-Schutte, Ph.D.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08811791856947238859noreply@blogger.com