Which statement best describes the first step in self-disclosure?

Which statement best describes the first step in self-disclosure?

• A. Follow the principle of Non-maleficence - do no harm
• B. Be mindful of personal boundaries and privacy
• C. Always disclose as much as possible
• D. Always disclose only to colleagues

Answer: (A)

The central idea is to protect the client and the therapeutic relationship. The first step in self-disclosure is applying the principle of non-maleficence—do no harm. Before sharing anything personal, consider whether disclosure could harm the client, blur professional boundaries, or distract from the client’s needs. If revealing something could cause harm or undermine trust, you withhold or limit what you disclose and only proceed with disclosures that are clearly helpful and relevant to the client’s goals. Once you’ve established that the disclosure won’t cause harm, you can then attend to boundaries, privacy, and the relevance of what you share. Disclosing as much as possible isn’t appropriate because self-disclosure should be purposeful and targeted to benefit the client. Sharing only with colleagues bypasses the client’s right to confidentiality and the therapeutic process. Being mindful of personal boundaries and privacy matters, but it serves as a subsequent check after ensuring that the disclosure will not harm the client or the relationship.

The central idea is to protect the client and the therapeutic relationship. The first step in self-disclosure is applying the principle of non-maleficence—do no harm. Before sharing anything personal, consider whether disclosure could harm the client, blur professional boundaries, or distract from the client’s needs. If revealing something could cause harm or undermine trust, you withhold or limit what you disclose and only proceed with disclosures that are clearly helpful and relevant to the client’s goals. Once you’ve established that the disclosure won’t cause harm, you can then attend to boundaries, privacy, and the relevance of what you share.

Disclosing as much as possible isn’t appropriate because self-disclosure should be purposeful and targeted to benefit the client. Sharing only with colleagues bypasses the client’s right to confidentiality and the therapeutic process. Being mindful of personal boundaries and privacy matters, but it serves as a subsequent check after ensuring that the disclosure will not harm the client or the relationship.