Abstract
This article reports on a study of social workers’ engagement in self-disclosure. Consistent with theory and research, participants
limited their use of personal self-disclosure but were more willing to be transparent with clients. Yet, the social workers
in this study did not always feel prepared by their education to appropriately engage in self-disclosure nor did they believe
their use of this skill was grounded in theory or research. Many of the participants also didn’t feel comfortable talking
about self-disclosure in supervision or with colleagues. Findings suggest that more attention should be devoted to teaching
social work students about appropriate use of self-disclosure, particularly its different manifestations and its indications
and contraindications. The findings also underscore the need for more open and direct discussion of this set of skills in
supervision and consultation.
limited their use of personal self-disclosure but were more willing to be transparent with clients. Yet, the social workers
in this study did not always feel prepared by their education to appropriately engage in self-disclosure nor did they believe
their use of this skill was grounded in theory or research. Many of the participants also didn’t feel comfortable talking
about self-disclosure in supervision or with colleagues. Findings suggest that more attention should be devoted to teaching
social work students about appropriate use of self-disclosure, particularly its different manifestations and its indications
and contraindications. The findings also underscore the need for more open and direct discussion of this set of skills in
supervision and consultation.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s10615-012-0408-z
- Authors
- Carolyn Knight, School of Social Work, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USA
- Journal Clinical Social Work Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-3343
- Print ISSN 0091-1674