Counselor self-disclosure is a technique where counselors share personal information to build rapport with clients and model vulnerability. While it can improve the relationship through increased intimacy and trust, it risks undermining the power dynamic or distracting from client issues. For it to be effective, any disclosure must be brief, focused on the client, and avoid problems or role confusion.

1. A conscious, intentional technique in which clinicians share information about their lives outside the counselling relationship Requires counsellors to act in a paradoxical(ironic) manner – that is, communicate a common message in a tailored way, with a different objective, and external focus Defies (confront) our natural ‘self-centred dialogue Role: to facilitate client disclosure through modelling and the establishment of trust In other words, counsellor discloses information about him/herself in order to establish a connection with the client, thus creating rapport, trust and improving interpersonal communication

2. Client may see counsellor vulnerability, hence affecting the trust of the relationship. Could undermine the balance of power in relationship However this vulnerability could improve the relationship between the counsellor and client by creating more intimacy as the client ‘sees’ the counsellor in the ‘same level’ of him or her. Therefore the outcomes depend on the counsellor’s actions and how those actions will reflect from the clients’ perspective (based on the client’s personality variables) Moving focus from client Taking too much counselling time (and thus reducing client disclosure) Creating role confusion Possibly trivialising the client’s issue by implying everyone goes through it Interfering with transference

3. Helping the client to not feel alone Decreasing client anxiety Improving client’s awareness to different viewpoints Increasing counsellor genuineness

4. Counselor should be direct, brief, focused and relevant. Should not be used frequently Should not add to the client’s problems and negative outcomes in a situation In essence, the purpose of self-disclosure should be clear to both counselor and client, and the process should only be used after considering other options If used in an effective manner, it can be a useful strategy and a common process in the counselling setting