A retrospective experience of therapists' self-disclosure in treatments described as successful.

Abstract

Objective: This study examined therapists' retrospective experiences regarding self-disclosure in successful treatments. Previous research indicates that therapeutic alliance, empathy, and integrity are crucial for treatment success, with self-disclosure serving as an additional tool for fostering meaningful therapeutic relationships. Method: A qualitative approach was employed with nineteen clinical psychologists. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Two contextual background themes emerged alongside two main findings. The contextual themes describe: (1) factors contributing to treatment success, including positive therapeutic alliance and patient characteristics such as high motivation; and (2) treatment outcomes, manifested in functional improvements and emotional changes. The main findings address: (1) considerations for employing self-disclosure, encompassing intuitive and emotion-based motives alongside structured therapeutic assessment, primarily aimed at normalizing and validating patient experiences; and (2) therapists' perceived impact on therapeutic dynamics, ranging from strengthened alliance and deepened emotional closeness to limited or unclear effects. Conclusions: Self-disclosure is a complex intervention that requires informed clinical judgment, a deep understanding of therapeutic dynamics, and careful adaptation to individual patient needs. The study underscores the need for balance between intuition and rational considerations. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of self-disclosure and its thoughtful application for improving treatment outcomes.