My T self discloses a lot. I think it helps us bond, grow closer, and build our relationship. It helps us have a more reciprocal relationship, which is helpful to me and my therapy.

T's' self disclosures also help model different ways of being in the world. My ways are not always so successful or healthy! So I can learn something by hearing how T has dealt with similar situations. For example, we have talked about how to handle death and sadness. How to handle the terminal illness and death of a parent. T tells of what happened in his life so I can see how it went for him, and perhaps get new ideas of how I can pass through these challenges myself. Another example is self care. I am working in a really draining job right now at a hospital. T gives examples of how he cares for himself--being a therapist can certainly lead to burn out--and I get some ideas. T doesn't tell me "this is how you should do this" but just tells me how he does it, and I can pick and choose the ideas that might work for me. So talking about himself is a kind of a non-directive method of putting ideas on the table.