Jl. Lewis et Dr. Stokes, OBLIGATED CLINICIAN SELF-DISCLOSURE - ONE THERAPISTS INTERVENTIONS FOLLOWING A FAMILY MEMBERS PUBLICIZED MURDER, Journal of marital and family therapy, 22(1), 1996, pp. 41-52
This article describes a family therapist's management of the sudden c
ollision between professional and personal boundaries following the pu
blicized murder of her spouse. Reasons are offered to explain why it i
s becoming difficult for all clinicians to control the process of self
-disclosure in therapy. Strategies used to meet the demands of affirmi
ng professional distance while maintaining therapeutic effectiveness a
re described. Brief recommendations are proposed for therapists in gro
up, medical, rural, inpatient, and underserved settings. It is hoped t
hat this case study will generate further discussion and assist health
care providers who may face this challenge in the future.