Listening to Both Sides of the Therapeutic Dyad: Self-Disclosure of Gay Male Therapists and Reflections From Their Gay Male Clients

Abstract

Clinicians vary as to their beliefs about the use of self-disclosure in psychotherapy depending on theoretical framework, experience level, and the problem focus. Given the limited number of studies examining therapeutic pairs (client and clinician), this study used qualitative methodology to interview gay male therapists and their gay male clients about how therapist self-disclosures affected their therapy. Results show that clients often felt aware of therapist self-disclosures, whether explicit or implicit, and believed the disclosures assisted them in feeling connected to their therapists and served to normalize the clients’ experiences. Limitations to the study are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• therapist self-disclosure
• connections
• gay men
• qualitative