Naeger, Brenda (2013) Self-Disclosure of Clients and Therapists: A Discursive Approach in Real-Life Psychological Consultations. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
This study examined how client and therapist self-disclosure is accomplished in real-life psychological consultations. Using a discursive psychology and conversation analysis approach, three psychological consultations comprising of two dyads (two psychologists and two clients) were examined for how self-disclosure is oriented to, constructed, and situated within therapy interactions. Self-disclosures were evident, from both client and therapist in therapy. The disclosures conformed to Antaki, Barnes, and Leudar’s (2005) self-disclosure definition: 1) the speaker reports information which is personal or privileged; 2) the information must be significant within the circumstances of the interaction; and 3) the information is volunteered, that is generally above and beyond what is expected in the situation. Analysis revealed that self-disclosures were produced or constructed in a manner that made them hearably delicate or sensitive topics by predelicate perturbations prior to the disclosure. Self-disclosures appeared to be understood as a departure from ‘normal’ therapy talk, and a shift back to therapy talk was required. This conversational shift back to therapy talk was often achieved via the discourse marker ‘so’. Therapist self-disclosures were often situated after a client’s statement or disclosure, and were constructed to normalise a client’s thoughts or behaviour and to facilitate therapy. Further studies may investigate what happens after this conversational shift and examine whether the self-disclosure has facilitated, hindered or done-neutral to the therapeutic relationship.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology, Counselling and Community (1 Jul 2013 - 31 Dec 2014) |
| Supervisors: | Andrea Lamont-Mills |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2025 01:09 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2025 01:09 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | self-disclosure, discursive psychology, conversation analysis, psychotherapy |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52608 |
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