Perceptions of therapist disclosure of previous experience as a client

Investigated Ss' (N = 175) perceptions of a therapist and of the therapeutic relationship after the therapist's disclosure that he was once a client in therapy. The effect of information that indicated the reason he sought therapy also was examined. Additionally, the relationship of Ss' attitudes toward seeking professional help to their perceptions of the therapist was assessed. Results indicated that Ss evaluated the therapist primarily on the basis of his interactions with the client--the disclosing therapist consistently was seen as having more favorable personal and therapeutic abilities and as more facilitative of the therapeutic relationship than was the nondisclosing therapist.