It is not uncommon for therapists to mention their marital status in a therapeutic context, but the frequency of such disclosures can vary among therapists and therapeutic approaches. Therapists may disclose their marital status for specific therapeutic purposes, depending on the client's needs and the therapist's judgment. Some reasons a therapist might share their marital status include:
Normalization: Therapists may share their marital status to normalize the experience of being in a committed relationship. It can help clients feel understood and relate to the therapist's experiences.
Relatability: Sharing their marital status can help build rapport and a sense of connection between the therapist and the client, which can be essential for the therapeutic relationship.
Countertransference: In some cases, a therapist might notice countertransference (strong feelings or biases toward the client) related to their own marital status. Disclosing this could be relevant to the therapeutic process.
Modeling healthy relationships: If the client is working on relationship issues, the therapist might share aspects of their own healthy relationship as a positive model.
Setting boundaries: In certain situations, disclosing a marital status might be appropriate for setting boundaries in the therapeutic relationship.
However, therapists are generally cautious about self-disclosure and do not focus on their own personal life during therapy sessions. The primary focus remains on the client's needs and experiences.
It's important to note that self-disclosure is a delicate balance, and not all therapists choose to reveal personal information like their marital status. Therapists are trained to carefully consider the potential impact of self-disclosure on the therapeutic process and the client's well-being. Ethical guidelines also emphasize the importance of avoiding self-disclosure that could harm the client or shift the focus away from the client's needs.
In any case, if a client feels uncomfortable with their therapist's disclosure or believes it is negatively affecting the therapeutic relationship, they should feel free to discuss it openly with the therapist or consider seeking support from a different mental health professional.