Should a dramatherapist disclose their sexual orientation to their clients? Perhaps they should be prepared to

Abstract

This article discusses the proposition that a therapist should be prepared to ‘come out’ and disclose their sexual orientation to a client, irrespective of how they identify. This enquiry has been shaped by the author’s experience as a newly qualified dramatherapist, as a lesbian and as a new author. In the absence of existing dramatherapy literature on the topic of Therapist Self-Disclosure (TSD) and Therapist Self-Disclosure of Sexual Orientation (TSDSO), research has been drawn from publications across psychological literature. The article particularly focuses on the use of verbal and, to a lesser extent, non-verbal TSDSO with lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB) therapists and/or clients.

‘Analytical snapshots’ from the author’s clinical experience, as a final-year dramatherapy trainee, and from the author’s personal experience will be presented and considered to further the discussion around preparedness for self-disclosure. The article supports the view that a dramatherapist should be prepared to disclose their sexual orientation to a client if required; and that becoming prepared would require the use of personal therapy, training, clinical supervision and awareness of the therapeutic relationship, as well as awareness of supporting literature.

Keywords:

• dramatherapy
• self-disclosure
• preparedness
• sexual orientation
• lesbian
• verbal
• non-verbal
• training