Have you ever wondered “Should I tell my client this about myself?”, or been asked a personal question by a client? Many clinicians have, and this may be a difficult decision to make considering the professional relationship and ethical guidelines. This training will present learners with the key aspects of self-disclosure, including potential benefits and risks. Ethical considerations will be explored, and learners will obtain valuable perspectives and recommendations for ethically handling self-disclosure in clinical settings.
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Comprehend and describe key aspects of therapeutic self-disclosure, including potential benefits and risks.
- Examine and articulate key ethical considerations of self-disclosure, including advantages and disadvantages.
- Apply best practices for ethical and therapeutic self-disclosure by considering a variety of clinician and client factors.
Syllabus:
Objective #1: Understanding Self-Disclosure in Therapy
- Define self-disclosure and distinguish immediate from non-immediate disclosures
- Explore types of disclosures: deliberate, unavoidable, accidental, inappropriate, and client-initiated
- Examine historical perspectives including Carl Rogers’ disclosure patterns
Objective #2: Clinical Functions and Ethical Implications
- Identify benefits such as enhancing rapport, modeling vulnerability, and normalizing client experiences
- Acknowledge risks including boundary confusion, shift of focus, and damage to trust
- Discuss self-disclosure as a clinical competency and intervention
Objective #3: Ethical Standards and Professional Guidelines
- Review NASW, ACA, and AAMFT ethics codes on conflicts of interest and appropriateness of disclosure
- Emphasize disclosures should be used only when benefiting the client
- Understand that disclosures should never serve the therapist’s personal interest
Objective #4: Client Perspectives and Cultural Sensitivity
- Present client reactions to various disclosure styles and contexts
- Discuss the impact of clinician warmth versus detachment
- Explore considerations related to timing, intensity, and relevance
Objective #5: Decision-Making Frameworks and Guidelines
- Introduce the WAIT model (Why Am I Telling This?)
- Encourage assessment of content, timing, and intensity
- Emphasize the importance of attunement and client-centered intentions
Objective #6: Disclosure in Special Contexts and Populations
- Examine appropriate use with substance use, minors, LGBTQ+ clients, veterans, and culturally diverse populations
- Understand questions commonly posed by minors and how to navigate them ethically
- Consider how spiritual, racial, and developmental factors influence disclosure choices
Objective #7: Contraindications and Red Flags
- Identify clinician-based issues such as unmet personal needs or poor boundaries
- Recognize client-based issues such as dependency, trauma history, or vulnerability to misunderstanding
- Address red flags such as frequent personal sharing or disclosures used to seek affirmation
Objective #8: Skill Practice and Application
- Practice responses to client statements using appropriate self-disclosure
- Role-play when disclosure enhances insight versus when it complicates the relationship
- Use case vignettes to apply ethical reasoning to disclosure decisions
Objective #9: Managing Client-Initiated Questions
- Explore techniques to turn questions back to the client
- Practice brief, appropriate responses or gentle redirection
- Watch and discuss video examples of client inquiry and therapist responses
Resources and Continued Learning
- Access ethics codes, scholarly articles, and professional guidelines
- Explore handouts such as the Self-Disclosure Survey and SD Consideration Questions
- Use tools like the Parade of Red Flags and Self-Disclosure Worksheets for decision support
Social workers completing this course receive 3 Ethics asynchronous continuing education credits.
For other board approvals, this course qualifies for 3 Ethics continuing education training.
Instructor: Diane Bigler, LCSW, LSCSW
Recording Date: December 9, 2024
CEUS On-Demand, LLC, provider #2274, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/7/2026 - 08/6/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 3hrs Ethics continuing education credits.
CEUs On-Demand, LLC has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7091. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CEUs On-Demand, LLC is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
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Request for Special Accommodations: Learners can request special accommodations by contacting the administrative team at admin@ceus-ondemand.com