University of Central England in Birmingham

MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy

Dissertation By Dianne Mee

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore counselling supervisors attitudes to the use of counsellor self-disclosure in client work as a therapeutic technique. Self-disclosure in a therapeutic context has been a subject of considerable interest and controversy since the late 1960’s. The literature on counselling supervision does not appear (at the time of writing) to have addressed the issue of counsellor self-disclosure in client work. The experiences of eight participants in relation to their personal use of self-disclosure in client work and their supervisory practice are explored by means of qualitative descriptions obtained through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that counsellor self-disclosure may not be as commonly used as the literature suggests. The training background and practice experience of the participants have strongly influenced their attitudes to counsellor self-disclosure. There is evidence that personal preferences regarding self-disclosure have been more influential than theoretical orientation of training. Feminist sensibilities have been very significant in the attitude of a minority of participants. Counsellor self-disclosure has been an issue in supervision for half of the participants. Supervisors’ personal attitude to counsellor self-disclosure appears to be influential in their management in supervision of supervisees’ self-disclosures in client work. Limitations of the study and areas for further research are discussed. Implications for supervisory practice in respect of counsellor self-disclosure are discussed and suggestions offered as guiding principles for supervisors.

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