A Little Self Disclosure

1. The Clinical Definition

In psychotherapy, Self-Disclosure is the intentional sharing of a therapist’s personal thoughts, feelings, or experiences with a client.

• The Goal: It is traditionally used sparingly to build rapport, normalize a client’s experience, or strengthen the therapeutic alliance.
• The Boundary: The “Golden Rule” in the clinic is that disclosure must always be for the client’s benefit, never the therapist’s.

2. The “Alittleselfdisclosure” Definition

Self-Disclosure (n.): The act of taking off the professional veil to reveal the human underneath. It is the brave intersection where psychological expertise meets personal wreckage, proving that the healer is not immune to the hurt. It is “un-masking” so that others feel safe enough to do the same.