Consequences of a Male Therapist Disclosing The Birth of his Child

Therapist self-disclosure is a theme that has been extensively addressed in the psychoanalytic and psychodynamic psychotherapy literature. Approaches to disclosure of information about the therapist have changed over time, and most importantly, they vary widely among the therapists practicing in a real-life situation. The treater's training is one important determinant of how much, for what reasons, and when he or she discloses personal information (Simon, 1988; Andersen and Anderson, 1989).

Freud's most explicit reference to self-disclosure was made in his series of papers on psychoanalytic technique (1912a):

Young and eager psychoanalysts will no doubt be tempted to bring their own individuality freely into the discussion… experience does not speak in favor of an affective technique of this kind… The doctor should be opaque to his patients and, like a mirror, should show them nothing but what is shown to him … In practice, it is true, there is nothing to be said against a psychotherapist combining a certain amount of analysis with some suggestive influence in order to achieve a perceptible result in shorter time.

Recent surveys of therapists have revealed that younger therapists are in fact less likely to self-disclose as compared to more experienced therapists (Andersen and Anderson, 1989).

There are several categories of self-disclosure, based on the material being disclosed. Fromm-Reichmann (1950) discussed disclosure of specific milestones or events in the life of a therapist:

It is, of course, possible for a significant occurrence, such as death, marriage, childbirth, or divorce, to take place in the life of a psychiatrist while a patient is under treatment. He may unassumingly comment on his reason for the interruption and add that he is now ready to work. He should bear in mind

1. * Chief Resident, Division of Education and Residency Training, The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital.

2. † Director, Division of Education and Residency Training, The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hos

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1. * Chief Resident, Division of Education and Residency Training, The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital.

2. † Director, Division of Education and Residency Training, The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hos