63rd Annual Conference

Saturday, February 25

Morning Workshops

8:45 am -12:00 Noon

Workshop 79

Reflections on Self-Disclosure: Deepening Our Work or Losing Our Balance

Chair(s):         

Margaret Postlewaite, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, White Plains, New York

Ona Robinson, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, New York

Peter J. Taylor, Ph.D., CGP, Private Practice, New York, New York

Group leaders reveal themselves implicitly and explicitly.  Information revealed or withheld depends on many factors, including theoretical stance, personal style, and individual history.  Three presenters with quite different approaches will invite participants to explore their own default positions, the theories they think they use, and the theories they actually practice.

Sharing of work experiences-experiential-didactic-demonstration

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Define the default self-disclosure position they practice.

2. Apply new understandings regarding self-disclosure to their practice.

3. Recognize self-disclosure that enhances and self-disclosure that detracts from group process and group learning.

4. Relate choices regarding self-disclosure to therapeutic boundaries, roles, and tasks.

Course References:

1. Gerson, B. (Ed.). (1996).  The Therapist as a Person:  Life crises, life choices, life experiences, and their effects on treatment. Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.

2. Jourard, S. (1971). Self disclosure: An experimental analysis of the transparent self.  Hoboken, NJ:  John Wiley and Sons.

3. Sternbach, J. (2002). Self-Disclosure with All-Male Groups.  International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 53, 61-82.