Self Disclosure in the Therapeutic Relationship

Transcription

1 Self Disclosure in the Therapeutic Relationship

2 Self-Disclosure in the Therapeutic Relationship Edited by George Stricker and Martin Fisher Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies Adelphi University Garden City, New Yark Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

3 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Self-disclosure in the therapeutic relationship / edited by George Strieker and Martin Fisher. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN Psychotherapy. 2. Self-disclosure. I. Strieker, George. II. Fisher, Martin, RC480.5.S '14 dc CIP ISBN DOI / ISBN (ebook) 1990 Springer Science+Business Media New York Originally published by Plenum Press, New York in 1990 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1990 All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher

4 Contributors Sabert Basescu, Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, and the Westchester Center for the Study of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, 516 Hommocks Road, Larchmont, New York Laura S. Brown, 4527 First Avenue NE, Seattle, Washington Windy Dryden, Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths' College, University of London, New Cross, London SE14 6NW, England Martin Fisher, Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York Mary Gail Frawley, Pomona Clinic, Robert L. Yeager Health Complex, Pomona, New York Arlene Cahn Gordon, 15 Dogwood Drive, West Orange, New Jersey Lisa R. Greenberg, 428 Franklin Avenue, Nutley, New Jersey Bede J. Healey, Saint Benedict's Abbey, Atchison, Kansas James w. Hull, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Westchester Division, 21 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, New York Jonathan M. Jackson, Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York v

5 vi Contributors Adelbert H. Jenkins, Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York Lawrence Josephs, Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York Robert C. Lane, Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York Esther Menaker, Postdoctoral Program for Training in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, and Private Practice, 20 West 77 Street, New York, New York Nicholas Papouchis, Program in Clinical Psychology, Long Island University, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn, New York Douglas J. Peddicord, 9402 Sunfall Court, Columbia, Maryland Judith C. Simon, 329 South San Antonio Road, Los Altos, California George Stricker, Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York Sophia Vinogradov, Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Presbyterian Medical Center, San Francisco, California Lenore E. A. Walker, Walker and Associates, 50 South Steele Street, Suite 850, Denver, Colorado Irvin D. Yalom, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305

6 Preface The editors of the present volume were also privileged to collaborate on an earlier book, Intimacy, also published by Plenum Press. In our preface to that volume, we described the importance and essence of intimacy and its centrality in the domain of human relationships. After reading the contributions to that volume, a number of issues emerged and pressed for elaboration. These questions concerned the nature and parameters of intimacy. The natural extension of these concerns can be found in the current work, Self-Disclosure in the Therapeutic Relationship. The editors, after careful consideration of the theoretical, philosophical, and technical literature, are impressed by the relationship between intimacy and appropriate self-disclosure. Self-disclosure, in this context, refers to those behaviors that allow oneself to be sufficiently revealing so as to become available for an intimate relationship. Levenson has referred to psychotherapy as the demystification of experience wherein intimacy emerges during the time that interpersonal vigilance diminishes through growing feelings of safety. Interpersonal experience can be demystified and detoxified by disclosure, openness, and authentic relatedness. This is not an easy process. Before one can be open, make contact, or reach out with authenticity, one must be available to oneself. This means making contact with-and accepting-the dark, fearful, and often untouched areas within the person that are often hidden even from oneself. The process of therapy enables those areas to gain consciousness, be tolerated, and be shared with trusted others. This book is about self-disclosure, with a focus on how it is understood and utilized from a variety of different theoretical orientations and with a variety of different patient groups. We have solicited chapvii

7 viii Preface ters from a group of well-known and highly regarded authors who, in their chapters, help to display a spectrum of attitudes and ideas about self-disclosure and its role in the therapeutic process. GEORGE STRICKER MARTIN FISHER

8 Contents PART I. INTRODUCTION Chapter 1 The Shared Experience and Self-Disclosure Martin Fisher Chapter 2 Self-Disclosure in Religious Spiritual Direction: Antecedents and Parallels to Self-Disclosure in Psychotherapy Bede J. Healey Historical Perspectives of Self-Disclosure Conditions for Self-Disclosure Self-Disclosure in Religion and Psychotherapy How Spiritual Direction Differs from Psychotherapy Self-Disclosure in Spiritual Direction The Desert Fathers Self-Disclosure in Practice Conclusion References ix

9 x Contents PART II. THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Chapter 3 Self-Disclosure and Classical Psychoanalysis Robert C. Lane and James W Hull The Problem of Self-Revelation Self-Disclosure and the Early Analysts Contemporary Views on Self-Disclosure Special Events Discussion References Chapter 4 Show and Tell: Reflections on the Analyst's Self-Disclosure 47 Sa bert Basescu Chapter 5 Self-Disclosure in Rational-Emotive Therapy Windy Dryden The Basic Principles of Rational-Emotive Therapy The RET Approach to Client Self-Disclosure Therapist Self-Disclosure in RET Overcoming Obstacles to Disclosure in Clients and Therapists.. 71 References Chapter 6 Self-Disclosure in Psychotherapy and the Psychology of the Self Lawrence Josephs A Developmental Analog for the Process of Self-Disclosure in Psychotherapy Implications for Psychotherapy Conclusion References

10 Contents xi PART III. THERAPEUTIC ISSUES Chapter 7 The Role of Implicit Communication in Therapist Self-Disclosure Jonathan M. Jackson Traditional Views of Self-Disclosure Special Events Progressive Views of Self-Disclosure Characteristics of Neutrality-Seeking Therapists References Chapter 8 Transference, Countertransference, and Therapeutic Efficacy in Relation to Self-Disclosure by the Analyst Esther Menaker Chapter 9 Self-Disclosure and the Nonwhite Ethnic Minority Patient 117 Adelbert H. Jenkins The Racial Context of American Society Engaging the Minority Client in Psychotherapy Managing the Early Sessions ''Agency'' in the Minority Client Language and Psychotherapy The Therapist's Skill: "Linguistic Competence" Sociolinguistic Issues in Psychotherapy Self-Disclosure to Oneself Some Dynamics of Language Difference in Therapy Therapist Self-Disclosure The "Contextual Unit" Conclusion References

11 xii Contents Chapter 10 Feminist Therapy Perspectives on Self-Disclosure Laura S. Brown and Lenore E. A. Walker Introduction A Brief Review of Self-Disclosure in Feminist Therapy Theory Self-Disclosure in Feminist Therapy Theory The Nature of Self-Disclosure in Feminist Therapy Problems in the Use of Self-Disclosure in Feminist Therapy Current Applications of Self-Disclosure in Feminist Therapy Conclusion References PART IV. THERAPEUTIC MODALITIES Chapter 11 Self-Disclosure and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents Nicholas Papouchis Introduction The Concept of Self-Disclosure Self-Disclosure in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with Adults Self-Disclosure with Children and Adolescents: A Developmental Perspective The Therapist's Self-Disclosure with Adolescents The Therapeutic Alliance and Self-Disclosure The Adolescent Therapist as an Object of Identification Summary References... : Chapter 12 Self-Disclosure in Psychotherapy: Working with Older Adults 175 Lisa R. Greenberg Introduction Role of Self-Disclosure for Older People Psychotherapy and the Elderly Self-Disclosure by Therapist Self-Disclosure by Older Patients

12 Contents xiii Summary References Chapter 13 Self-Disclosure in Group Psychotherapy Sophia Vinogradov and Irvin D. Yalom Patient Self-Disclosure in Group Psychotherapy Therapist Self-Disclosure in Group Psychotherapy Concluding Remarks References PART V. EXTRATHERAPEUTIC MANIFESTATIONS Chapter 14 Criteria for Therapist Self-Disclosure Judith C. Simon 207 Introduction The Study Findings Criteria Modeling Discussion References Chapter 15 Self-Disclosure in Holocaust Survivors: Effects on the Next Generation Arlene Cahn Gordon Introduction Self-Disclosure in Stages of Survival Self-Disclosure: A Developmental Framework Referential Activity: A Measure of Self-Disclosure The Study of Self-Disclosure in Survivors and Their Children Unique and Universal Implications Therapeutic Implications

13 xiv Contents Conclusion References Chapter 16 From Secrecy to Self-Disclosure: Healing the Scars of Incest Mary Gail Frawley Chapter 17 Issues in the Disclosure of Perinatal Death Douglas]. Peddicord The Problem of Perinatal Death Unique Characteristics of Perinatal Death... ; The Impact on Parents Barriers to Disclosure Self-Disclosure and Its Effects References PART VI. CONCLUSION Chapter 18 Self-Disclosure and Psychotherapy George Stricker Index