Do you self disclose?

Last night in class we were struggling with the idea of self-disclosure with clients. What is appropriate and what is not appropriate?

Self-disclosure is telling someone about your particular struggles or victories in life. For example, my parents got divorced when I was an infant. There are particular struggles I have had to overcome due to the nature of any divorce. When is this experience appropriate to share?

One of the sites I have interned at I have heard many of the counselors and staff share their personal struggle with addiction and go on to tell how "everyone here" has used drugs. This self disclosure has now painted a very broad brush in saying that everyone has used drugs.

When is personal self disclosure appropriate? When does self disclosure go to far? Making a broad statement is not self disclosure.

The question to ask is, "How does my personal self disclosure benefit the client and his or her journey?"

One's self disclosure is not an opportunity for you to boost your ego or justify a behavior. Self disclosure is about the person receiving the information, not the one sending the information.