Self-Disclosure in Sport Psychology Practice

Practitioner self-disclosure, or what we reveal about ourselves to the client, can have a profound effect on the practitioner–client relationship and the outcomes of the consultancy process. Knowledge of the principles of self-disclosure can provide practitioners with professional and practical guidance on how and when to self-disclose. To date, there has been little written on the use of self-disclosure by practitioners when working with athletes. This chapter will explore the intrapersonal and social implications of practitioner self-awareness, and the intentions, operationalization, and consequences of practitioner self-disclosure in the generation of professional relationships. The concept of self-disclosure will be explored in terms of both the practitioner’s personal needs and their professional efficacy. The chapter will help graduate students, early career practitioners, and more seasoned professionals who have wrestled with decisions about whether to self-disclose both during consultancy and across the wider social and virtual environments that sport psychology practice is situated.