Goldilocks Disclosures: A Qualitative Exploration of When Therapist Self-Disclosure of Lived Experience Is “Just Right”

Abstract

Despite increasing employment of peer workers, primarily hired for their lived experience of mental health issues, concerns remain regarding the appropriateness of clinical health professionals (e.g., psychologists, counselors) disclosing their own lived experience. This qualitative study examined how therapists’ lived experience disclosures are perceived by clients and other therapists. Participants (160 clients and 158 therapists) shared their experiences with therapist disclosure and responded to one of four hypothetical scenarios. Reflexive thematic analysis identified key themes that highlighted the tension between disclosures demonstrating humanity versus professionalism, openness versus a client-centered approach, and empathy versus competence. Themes also highlighted the challenge of getting disclosures “just right,” ensuring therapists had established rapport, kept disclosures brief and relevant, and shared experiences from which they had recovered. The findings underscored the trade-offs between the potential benefits and harms of disclosure, highlighting some conditions under which disclosure is considered appropriate and best supports the client.