European American therapist self-disclosure in cross-cultural counselling

Abstract: Eleven European American psychotherapists ’ use of self-disclosure in cross-cultural counseling was studied using consensual qualitative research. As reasons for self-disclosing, therapists reported the intent to enhance the counseling relationship, acknowledge the role of racism/oppression in clients ’ lives, and acknowledge their own racist/oppressive attitudes. Results indicated that therapists typically shared their reactions to clients ’ experiences of racism or oppression and that these self-disclosures typically had positive effects in therapy, often improving the counseling relationship by helping clients feel understood and enabling clients to advance to other important issues. For some time, therapists and researchers have recognized the importance of therapist self-disclosure (TSD) to therapy and the powerful effect it may have for the therapeutic relationship (Hill & Knox, 2002). Different theoretical orientations, however, have not always enabled agreement on the use of TSD in therapy. For example, therapists in the psychodynamic tradition often seek to limit their self-disclosures so that information about the therapist does not hinder the process of uncovering and resolving client transference (Jackson, 1990). In contrast, therapists from humanistic and existential orientations support the use of self-disclosure t