CAMPO E FUNÇÃO DA AUTO-REVELAÇÃO DO TERAPEUTA NO RELACIONAMENTO TERAPÊUTICO A VIVÊNCIA DO TERAPEUTA

Abstract

In the therapist-client relationship, here conceptualized as an encounter of subjectivities in an interpersonal context, self-disclosure (SD) by the therapist to the client is not rare. Here SD is defined as the act of the therapist to disclose verbally something about him or her self during the session. The literature presents controversial positions concerning the use of SD as a therapeutic intervention. At the one hand there are practices that promote it enthusiastically. On the other, we observe strong opposition. The aim of the present study is to seek support for the use or not of SD and to investigate the therapist s goals, as well as his or her vision concerning the impact of SD on him or herself, on the client and on the process. A qualitative, exploratory method is used including 10 therapists with behavioral training, and who work from a contextualist point of view. The data collection occurred through semi-structured interviews, recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. A Grounded theory approach was used, which consists of an inductive process of analysis, organization, categorization and interpretation with the aim to elaborate a theory that explains contexts. The results suggest that SD is frequently used, mainly by therapists whose training includes contact with the ideas of the third wave . The use of SD to intensify the therapist-client relationship, to demonstrate comprehension, and to offer models was observed to be quite general. A sub-group considered that SD does not have to be genuine to be valid. It is suggest that experience and training may be variables that influence the use of AR.