Discuss the Debate Around Worker Self-Disclosure in Social Work

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The Answer is In general terms, self-disclosure can be considered appropriate if consciously used by a worker to convey empathy, strengthen the relational bond, or help a client gain insight into a particular situation. Despite these guidelines, what one self-discloses is still a contested issue. Reactions about when and what self-disclosure is appropriate must be understood within the context of divergent theoretical orientations. In traditional analytic definitions of self-disclosure, the worker is viewed as somewhat "neutral," with the role of reflecting back only what the client brings to the encounter. From this perspective, self-disclosure can and should be controlled and used sparingly, as the risk of revealing a worldview or perspective may outweigh the benefit of communicating empathy, offering insight, or strengthening the bond. This view on self-disclosure has continued to exercise a strong influence in most public organizations employing social workers. Critical theories, by contrast, assert that the "neutral" worker is one that is blind to the impact of social location on the helping process. By aiming for neutrality, workers may fail to recognize how their physical appearance, language, or comments reveal something about their worldview, which, if unacknowledged, can create a harmful distance between worker and client. From this perspective, self-disclosure is inevitable and should become an explicit component of the therapeutic process.

Discuss the Debate Around Worker Self-Disclosure in Social Work

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