To thine ownself be true And it must follow as the night the day Thou canst not then be false to any man. (Hamlet, Act I)
Abstract
The authors explore various arguments for and against therapist self disclosure and relate these to theoretical school and therapist style and personality. Several case vignettes are used to highlight the appropriate and efficacious revelation of therapist's thoughts, feelings and reactions to the patients and their behavior. A review of the recent literature on this controversial topic is included. The theme is that in almost all therapies, except in psychoanalysis where it is counterindicated, the therapist's selective dynamic use of his own perceptions, experiences and values in a genuine and committed fashion contributes positively to the therapeutic outcomes.
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Kaslow, F., Cooper, B. & Linsenberg, M. Family therapist authenticity as a key factor in outcome. International Journal of Family Therapy 1, 184–199 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926717
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00926717