COUC 501 Ethical Vignette To Self-Disclose or Not 2026.docx

Ethical Vignette

Ethical Vignette: To Self-Disclose or Not?

Tyler D. Herring

School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University

Abstract

This paper analyzes the interaction between a licensed counselor and his client regarding the

dilemma of counselor self-disclosure. The potential issues of self-disclosure included 1)

validation of faulty client assumptions, 2) an inappropriate shift of therapeutic focus, and 3) a

counselor self-disclosure in psychotherapy, and finally, a course of action was established to

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promote client well-being via a strong therapeutic alliance, immediate and non-immediate

counselor self-disclosure, and client empowerment.

Keywords: self-disclosure, therapeutic alliance, ethical decision-making, ethical

disclosure, non-immediate disclosure, immediate disclosure

Ethical Vignette: To Self-Disclose or Not?

In module four of this week, we were tasked with reviewing two videos and choosing to

analyze one of them. Our analysis was intended to accurately identify the professional dilemma

presented, process the dilemma via the ethical decision-making process, and determine a

course of action that both respects the client and is successful at establishing an effective

therapeutic relationship. The video that I chose to analyze was titled “To Self-Disclose or Not?”

accurately determine the nature and scope of the problem. Then, we will appeal to the

American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics, state and federal regulatory laws and

statutes, and professional counseling colleagues to assess if there is precedence in dealing with

selfdisclosure issues. Finally, we will devise a plan with how to proceed in the best interest of

the client’s well-being.

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Identify the problem

Though this problem may seem elementary, it is multi-faceted, and thus, every

discernable angle must be properly examined before proceeding. The fact of the situation is that

a client has approached a counselor hesitantly, discouraged by past frustrations in therapy. To

mitigate his reservations, the client believes that his counselor needs to be someone who has

experienced the same challenge of drug and alcohol addiction. The counselor identifies that one

with personal experience of addiction can truly understand and help him. He's been hurt by

past counselors, so he’s hesitant and likely guarded, and he needs to feel emotionally safe

before he is vulnerable again. 2) The counselor’s self-disclosure could unintentionally shift the

focus away from the client and create emotional distance. Even with the best intentions, self-

disclosure may negatively impact the client if he feels alienated, offended, or discouraged by the

counselor’s story. 3) The client could over-identify with the counselor or assume that similar

experiences mean the counselor is “the perfect fit.” Shared stories do not guarantee shared

outcomes. The counselor must avoid creating unrealistic expectations.

Each of these issues reflect a clinical and ethical problem rather than a legal or

technological problem. The dilemma is clinical in nature because it involves therapeutic

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problem is also ethical in nature because of the challenge to the principles of beneficence,

nonmaleficence, and fidelity. Because of confusion, misrepresentation, or a breach in

a reminder that the client’s well-being is the primary goal and concern of all the counselor’s

efforts (ACA, 2014). Therefore, it is important to implement a strategy, based on sound research,

that will utilize self-disclosure to promote the client’s well-being. If, however, self-disclosure

confuses the client or appeals to counselor’s own comfort, then it would violate A.1.a (ACA,

impose their own values on clients (ACA, 2014). By sharing his story, the counselor is essentially

sharing his interpretation of the story – this includes both the intentionally healed parts as well

as the unintentionally unhealed parts. This standard will help guide the counselor in deciding

which parts of his story are relevant to the client and which parts the counselor may want to

share for either validation or impositions sake. A.6.a deals with client advocacy and encourages

the counselor to address the barriers that inhibit the client’s progress (ACA, 2014). One such

barrier is the client’s frustration with previous counselors, and the counselor is correctly trying

to address this issue.

Utilizing the ACA’s Code of Ethics is supported by Section 2202-I of the Mississippi

Administrative Code. This rule states that counselors are required to adopt and implement into

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can examine for precedence; Section 2202-A warns counselors against entering a quasi-dual

relationship which is one possible outcome of self-disclosure (MSBPA, n.d.). The client’s reaction

client harm or hinder the process (MSBPA, n.d.). In essence, self-disclosure could violate the

spirit of patient rights protection.

The ACA’s principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity, and veracity are

applicable in this situation; the only ethical principle that does not apply is justice.

Nonmaleficence is the primary ethical concern due to the possibility that self-disclosure could

inhibit therapeutic progress by unintentionally creating distance between the counselor and

good rapport, the client will have more evidence that counselors do not understand him. It is

important for the counselor to handle this situation in such a way as not to enhance the damage

that is already done. Beneficence and fidelity are strong secondary concerns in this dilemma.

The counselor must attempt a therapeutic alliance, and to do so, he must remove the barrier of

mistrust. A concern for fidelity will drive the counselor to protect the integrity of this

relationship from becoming quasi-dual (Forester-Miller & Davis, 2016). The counselor should

also respect client autonomy by filtering the disclosure of firsthand interpretive information.

Finally, the client should utilize veracity as a guiding principle to recount his recovery, especially

when employing the ethical decision-making model.

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American Counseling Association as well as the Mississippi Licensed Professional Counselors

Board of Examiners. Dr. Branden Henry of Red River Counseling and Dr. Michael Stempkovski of

standards. Experienced local colleagues can also offer practical insight based on years of

practice.

As this client’s counselor, I would begin my feedback by validating the client’s feelings of

This technique is known as therapist immediate disclosure which is communicating to the client

what I am experiencing in his presence. I would conclude my immediate disclosure by

expressing what an honor and privilege it is to sit with him in this space. This technique appeals

to his desire for relationship and relatability without engaging in full, non-immediate

selfdisclosure. Research suggests that this type of disclosure can lead to improved client

outcomes early in the therapeutic relationship, particularly when the client’s capacity for

emotion regulation is not yet known (Alfi-Yogev et al., 2020).

Next, I would respond to his fears and frustrations regarding the previous counselors. My

desire is to continue empowering him through validation while also inspiring him with hope that

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his path to recovery is possible – an evidenced-based technique in counseling. (Bartholomew et

al., 2021). Self-disclosure is one way to promote hope. Many counseling graduates begin their

wounds. Healed wounds become gifts whilst unhealed wounds become infected and rot the

spirit of the counselor. A skilled and gifted counselor is like a master builder, equipped with the

right tools and inspired by the firsthand beauty of magnificent architecture. This is defined as

God gave hope through the form of progressive revelation via the covenants of Noah, Abraham,

Moses, David, and the New Covenant. The full story of creation or redemption has never been

revealed, yet this has not hindered salvation. In fact, it has empowered salvation (Robertson,

1981). I will inspire my client with the amount of disclosure necessary to establish hope, trust,

and ultimately faith in the alliance that we are building. Thus, I will ensure my client that I have

completed some work and am still completing other work, thus making me a skilled and gifted

counselor. To inspire hope and trust without setting unrealistic expectations or feeding into the

false assumption that only counselors in recovery can heal him, I will disclose to him about my

past job as a confined space rescue technician. For many years, I rescued people who had been

hurt and were scared and hopeless that there was a way out; but once they called for help, I

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was someone that would rappel in and get them out of whatever complex situation they were

in. The only thing I required was for them to submit to the process and trust me, regardless of

offend or distance the client in any way that will hinder this process such as disclosing unhealed

is be more connected and in tune with all parts of him – both the addiction side and the

nonaddiction side. This first session is critical in establishing a therapeutic alliance, and I can

build from his story (including his experience with other counselors) to establish trust.

Self-disclosure may seem like an obvious resource in counseling, but counselors must

approach this topic cautiously. Every counselor’s story is unique as is every client. There is no

guarantee that a client will react positively to story – regardless of whether is healed or

unhealed. The client’s well-being and progress throughout the therapeutic process is the

priority for every counselor, and as such, every question, story, analogy, or technique from the

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counselor must be used to fulfill that goal. According to the ACA Code of Ethics, counselors

should consider nonmaleficence and benevolence when deciding how to engage with clients,

(Alfi-Yogev et al., 2020)(Forrest, 2009). It can also be a tool that is utilized to build rapport and

prompt further client disclosure. In many studies, the success of counselor disclosure depends

on the individual client, the extent of disclosure, the nature of the disclosure, and the timing of

validate his frustrations, manages expectations, and aligns with the ethical principles of the ACA