Concise, clear, and featuring numerous clinical examples, this is the first book to include empirical studies of supervisor/supervisee disclosure, plus extensive research on patient/therapist disclosure. Other unique topics include disclosure issues in child therapy.
"This is the best book on psychotherapy I have read recently--it is incredibly well written and easy to read. Farber provides a much-needed integration of theory, research, and practice related to self-disclosure, which, he argues, is a fundamental component of the psychotherapy process. He places the current interest in self-disclosure in a historical and multicultural context, and offers compelling arguments about both the positive and negative reasons for, and impact of, self-disclosure. Farber is able to blend his clinical experience with psychotherapy research findings in a way that both complements and helps us go beyond previous knowledge on this topic. This book is 'must' reading for all clinicians and psychotherapy researchers."--Clara Hill, PhD, University of Maryland, College Park
"Farber provides a refreshing, up-to-date review of the research on the effectiveness, purpose, benefits, advantages, and disadvantages of both patient and therapist self-disclosure. He offers a remarkable and significant perspective on the culture and changing nature of psychotherapy. For instance, therapist self-disclosure has become more common and accepted across disparate therapeutic orientations. This scholarly yet compassionate examination of a significant element in treatment is a valuable resource for graduate students to experienced professionals."--Melba J. T. Vasquez, PhD, past president, American Psychological Association Division 17 (Society of Counseling Psychology)
"Compelling, thought-provoking, well written and well referenced, this text is a significant contribution. Accessible and chock full of clinical examples, it is bound to fuel discussion in a class on the practice of psychotherapy."--Suzanne Bender, MD, Harvard Medical School
"Self-disclosure is a very hot, current topic. This well-written work is far more comprehensive than the usual contribution in the area. Rather than simply attending to clinical indications or contraindications for therapist disclosure, Farber considers the matter from the standpoint of the therapist, the patient, and the supervisee/supervisor dyad, and brings research as well as clinical considerations to his discussion. Clinical examples abound and add to the clarity of the work. Although the focus is on psychotherapy, there are also considerations from other areas of study, such as social psychology, and applications to the person outside of the therapy relationship. Various modalities and orientations are considered, and a welcome and unusual multicultural dimension is included."--George Stricker, PhD, American School of Professional Psychology, Argosy University, Washington, DC
"Hands down, the most thoughtful, penetrating, and practical book I have seen on self-disclosure in psychotherapy. Not since Sidney Jourard’s The Transparent Self has anyone seamlessly integrated clinical wisdom and empirical research on the quintessentially human desire to tell and the countervailing forces not to tell. Farber brilliantly addresses self-disclosure from therapist, patient, multicultural, and even supervisory perspectives. He embraces the complexity of self-disclosure while simultaneously augmenting our effective use of it. Bravo!"--John C. Norcross, PhD, University of Scranton
