Assessing Resources and Planning Process Discussion
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What precautions should social workers take concerning self-disclosure and personal sharing with clients?
The theme of self-disclosure is important, and social workers are encouraged to be very careful while sharing information and experiences with the clients, as this must always be in the client’s best interest. NASW Code of Ethics provides that self-disclosure is only appropriate when it is therapeutically useful to the client or contributes toward the achievement of the set objectives. One must draw clear lines between personal and professional relationships, avoiding overlapping, which could divert the attention of the client to the social worker (National Association of Social Workers, 2021). Each act of self-disclosure should be done for a specific therapeutic process, namely, for rapport, for the demystification of the client’s experiences, or for the intention to present a therapeutic model.
In this case, the concept that has been emphasized includes the nature, timing, and context of the information that social workers share about themselves. It is necessary to define two important aspects: the stage of the therapeutic relationship and the client’s readiness to work with the discussed information. There should not be a disclosure of information that may negatively affect the social worker or any other individuals; personal disclosures should not be irrelevant or invasive without being pertinent (National Association of Social Workers, 2021). One must review critical self-disclosure suggestions, considering their effects on the client’s perception of the professional relationship, emotions, and progress.
If unsure, the social worker should talk with a supervisor or seek a consultation about self-disclosure and the possible outcome. When self-disclosing, it is important to record the rationale and the client’s reaction to the process. Thus, following the ethical decision-making models pointed out by NASW ethical principles minimizes self-disclosures that are professionally acceptable and in the clients’ best interest. In this way, the principles help preserve the therapeutic bond between the social worker and their clients and effectively address clients’ needs.
Reference
National Association of Social Workers. (2021). Code of Ethics. National Association of Social Workers. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English