I'm curious but don't want to pry or raise a difficult issue. You say some things about how self-disclosure can be harmful, and yet it's unclear how that worked for you. You don't have to answer. I was just wondering. Like I have said before, perhaps on another thread, self-disclosure is quite complex and needs to be very thoughtful most of the time. My shrink uses it well and often, but he learned that I can handle things. Whereas I'm almost certain that he doesn't do it with everyone or even with many. He is an MD so he has to maintain a certain style for his patients who expect that in a doctor.