Leading by example

Experimental evidence that therapist lived experience disclosures can model the path to recovery for clients

Bibliographic Data

ID9620190
AuthorsAngela M Robertson (0000-0002-3803-2492, School of Medicine and Psychology The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia, corresponding author), Tegan Cruwys (0000-0001-5296-3480, School of Medicine and Psychology The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia), Mark R Stevens (0000-0002-7908-3624, School of Medicine and Psychology The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia), Michael J Platow (0000-0002-1721-0827, School of Medicine and Psychology The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia)
Year2025
Volume116
Issue2
Pages409-431
Publication date2025-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1269 • E-ISSN: 2044-8295
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/bjop.12759
PMID39797543
OpenAlexW4406287761
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited57

A common guideline for self‐disclosure is that therapists should only share recovered personal experiences with clients (i.e., no longer distressing). However, theoretical rationale and empirical support for this claim is limited. Drawing on identity leadership theorizing, we investigated whether recovery disclosures are beneficial to the extent that they signal a therapist's aspirational prototypicality (i.e., embodiment of an aspirational identity for clients). Across two experimental studies ( N = 545), we recruited clients, therapists and general population adults. Participants read a group therapy for depression vignette in which the therapist disclosed: nothing, professional experience with depression, current depression, recovered depression or recovered anxiety. Participants rated the prototypicality of the therapist, the extent to which they perceived the therapist positively, the therapist's expertness and the expected prognosis for therapy. Contrary to our hypotheses, the type of disclosure did not significantly affect positive perceptions, expertness or expected prognosis ratings. However, the therapist disclosing a recovered and relevant condition (recovered depression) was rated as significantly more aspirationally prototypical than the other therapists. Given prior evidence that group therapists are more effective when viewed as aspirationally prototypical, our findings suggest that recovery disclosures may represent one way therapists can signal their prototypicality and enhance their effectiveness

Cognitive psychology · Path (computing) · Psychotherapist · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Social Psychology

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