The Therapist's Use of Self-Disclosure in a Relational Therapy Approach for Eating Disorders

Abstract

One of the critical aspects of Relational Therapy (RT) that distinguishes it from other treatments for eating disorders is the therapist's use of self-disclosure. Self-disclosure is one way the therapist authentically represents her- or himself in the therapeutic relationship to foster relational movement and growth. This article makes use of an initial clinical vignette to compare and contrast the use of therapist self-disclosure within an RT approach with views of therapist self-disclosure from other psychotherapy traditions. Advantages are discussed for using therapist disclosure with eating disordered patients. Criteria are outlined to help the RT therapist decide when to disclose. Additional clinical vignettes show different types of therapist self-disclosure, their therapeutic purposes, and their relational impact. The article ends with implications for future research, training, and practice related to the use of self-disclosure in the treatment of eating disordered patients.

I thank Dr. Susan McDaniel for her encouragement and editorial comments during the preparation of this manuscript.