Counselors' and clients' experience of counselor self-disclosure

• Main Author: Augustine, Chin Mary, SABS.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2004
• Subjects: Self-disclosure; Counselor and client; Interpersonal communication; Academic Advising; Student Counseling and Personnel Services
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3176; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10014/viewcontent/CDTG003709_P__1_.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study explores the counselors' and the clients' experience of counselors' self-disclosure. It also explores how the counselors view self-disclosure in the therapeutic process. It further explores the counselors' reasons for non-disclosing to their clients. The participants selected through purposive sampling, consisted of 8 counselor-client pairs and 3 non-disclosing counselors from universities in Metro Manila. The age range of counselors and clients was 35-75 and 20-44, respectively. Data gathering was done through personal interviews by using interview-guide questionnaire. The results showed that most of the counselors consider counselors' self-disclosure as revealing some personal experiences and sharing personal information . Most of the counselors in the study viewed counselors' disclosure as an effective tool in the counseling process, while a few viewed it as a source of transference and counter transference that makes the client more dependent. A unanimous reason given by non-disclosing counselors for not divulging to their clients is to enable them to use the resources. The counselors engaged in self-disclosure when they noticed that their clients were stagnant and needed support. Both the counselors and the clients experienced that the counselors' self-disclosure brought changes in their attitudes and behavior. The clients claimed that they felt accepted, trusted, honored and became more confident. It helped them to discover themselves and improve their relationships. However, some clients felt that the disclosures of their counselors were irrelevant and therefore did not benefit them. They expressed the view that they preferred their counselors to listen and to understand them. This indicates that self-disclosure should be appropriate, relevant and within a time frame.