The Power and Pitfalls of Self-Disclosure in Behavioral Healthcare: Intent versus Impact
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Description:
Self-disclosure by clinicians, defined as the intentional revelation of personal thoughts, feelings, experiences, or identity aspects within a therapeutic relationship, is a complex ethical and clinical intervention in behavioral health practice. Historically discouraged in many professional codes of ethics due to risks of boundary confusion and harm, contemporary research suggests that when used thoughtfully and intentionally, moderate self-disclosure can enhance therapeutic alliance, build rapport, model empowerment, and reduce stigma, particularly in contexts such as substance use and mental health treatment.
However, self-disclosure raises ethical concerns tied to professional boundaries, client welfare, and dual relationships; inappropriate or poorly timed disclosures can detract from client goals, blur professional roles, and risk emotional harm. In substance use disorder settings, disclosures about recovery status are especially sensitive, balancing potential trust-building benefits with boundary and ethical considerations. This presentation synthesizes ethical frameworks, research evidence, and clinical examples to help practitioners make informed decisions about self-disclosure that prioritize client welfare, respect professional ethics, and optimize treatment outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
- Define clinician self-disclosure and differentiate between intentional, therapeutic, and non-therapeutic disclosure practices.
- Identify relevant ethical principles, professional codes of conduct, and organizational policies that inform decisions regarding self-disclosure in clinical settings.
- Apply a structured, practical decision-making framework to evaluate when, why, and how self-disclosure may or may not be clinically appropriate.
PCSS-MOUD Funder Statement
Funding for this initiative was made possible by cooperative agreement no. 1H79TI086770 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human ServicesÍž nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Continuing Education (CE) Statement
Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), provider #1163, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CSWE maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 01/23/2018 - 01/23/2027.
Deana Leber George, M.Ed., LPCC-S
Manager of Training and Consultation
Center for Evidence-Based Practices (CEBP) and the Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence (SUD COE) at Case Western Reserve University
Deana Leber-George is the Manager of Training and Consultation at both the Center for Evidence-Based Practices (CEBP) and the Substance Use Disorder Center of Excellence (SUD COE) at Case Western Reserve University. In this role, she leads a team of trainers and consultants dedicated to providing learning opportunities aimed at developing a behavioral health workforce that is self-aware, knowledgeable, and skilled in delivering evidence-based, effective treatment interventions to those they serve. She also evaluates and offers consultation services to behavioral health systems and organizations seeking to implement evidence-based practices into their service offerings.
Before joining CWRU's CEBP, Deana spent 17 years working in the community behavioral health field, specializing in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. She utilized evidence-based models such as Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the Integrated Dual Disorder Treatment Model.
Ms. Leber-George holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, and a Master of Education in Community Counseling from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisory Designation in the State of Ohio.
Patricia (Patty) Stoddard Dare, MSW, PhD (Moderator)
Cleveland State University
Dr. Patricia Stoddard Dare currently teaches Research Methods and Substance Abuse classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and serves as the co-coordinator of the Chemical Dependency Counseling Certificate Program. Her research focuses on vulnerabilities experienced by children, youth and families, such as substance use disorders, mental health issues, delinquency, limiting health conditions, maltreatment, gender discrimination and food insecurity. She is currently writing on the topic of paid sick leave benefits. Her research has been cited in a wide range of national media outlets, including US News & World Report, Forbes, the Chicago Tribune, NBC News, Yahoo Finance, Reuters, the BBC, The New York Times, USA Today and the PBS program Evidence-Based Policy.
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