I don't see anything dishonest about it. He isn't just not obligated to tell you about his personal life. He is also discouraged from doing so by the professional ethical standards unless he believes that the disclosure would benefit the client. I understand that you believe that his earlier disclosure would've helped you, but he didn't believe so and, frankly, I don't believe so either. You don't really know how his earlier disclosure would've affected you in the long term. Yes, it might've helped you momentarily to know that he could relate to your experiences somewhat (I am not sure how much though because even though he's had problems with his mom he is not estranged from her like you are from your mother). But, such disclosure might've also confused you about the nature of your relationship with him and might've fed your need to know more about him ..and then more and more. It was appropriate for him to self-disclose when he did because you admitted to the fact that you found his family photo and because you assumed incorrectly that he had no problems with his mother. His brief disclosure was organic at the moment and, therefore, appropriate. But he was right not to disclose this before. That would've served no therapeutic purpose.