Which of the following is an appropriate reason for self-disclosure? To increase client's level of self-disclosure.

• A. To reveal the counselor's personal life.
• B. To redirect the interview away from the client.
• C. To fulfill supervisory requirements.
• D. To increase client's level of self-disclosure.

Answer: (D)

Self-disclosure by a counselor is most effective when it serves to invite the client to share more about themselves. The idea is to use brief, purposeful sharing that models openness and normalizes the client’s experiences, making it safer for them to reveal personal thoughts and feelings. When the goal is to increase the client’s level of self-disclosure, the counselor’s disclosure acts as a bridge: it shows that sharing is welcomed and that the client’s perspective is valued, which can strengthen the therapeutic alliance and advance progress on the client’s priorities.

Disclosures should be brief, directly relevant to the client’s concerns, and always oriented toward helping the client, not satisfying the counselor’s curiosity or revealing personal life details. They should never shift the interview away from the client or be used to meet supervisory or administrative requirements. In this way, increasing the client’s self-disclosure is the appropriate and ethical use of self-disclosure.