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Self-Disclosure: An Ethical Approach to Knowing What to say, When to Say it, and How to Say it

 

The use of self-disclosure in therapeutic relationships is a nuanced aspect of clinical practice that can significantly impact the connection between clinicians and clients. While certain personal details about therapists are inherently evident, the decision of when and how much to disclose remains a complex challenge for many practitioners. When clients inquire about the personal lives of their therapists, it often poses a dilemma regarding the appropriate response, with potential implications for the perceived professionalism of the clinician.

This interactive training, facilitated by Tonya Logan, Founder and CEO of Kayla’s Village, aims to address this challenge by using her own personal narrative as a case study. By sharing her experiences, Logan intends to provide a practical framework for clinicians to navigate the delicate balance of self-disclosure in their therapeutic interactions. The training encourages participants to approach client inquiries as opportunities for connection and growth, framing challenges within a positive and strength-based context.

Participants will be guided to develop a deeper understanding of how seemingly threatening questions from clients can be reframed to avoid prejudicial responses. The workshop emphasizes viewing these moments as chances to model effective communication and disclosure. By doing so, clinicians can contribute to the personal and professional growth of their clients, fostering an environment that encourages openness and understanding. Ultimately, this training seeks to empower clinicians with the skills to explain challenging information in a constructive manner, promoting a forward-moving, growth-oriented therapeutic relationship.

 https://nefesh.org/workshops/SelfDisclo422222/view

Self-Disclosure: An Ethical Approach to Knowing What to say, When to Say it, and How to Say it


Sunday, September 21st, 2025   1:00 PM EDT -4:00 PM EDT
$59.99 Tonya Logan, LCSW-C, LICSW, Founder and CEO, Kayla’s Village

 

The use of self-disclosure in therapeutic relationships is a nuanced aspect of clinical practice that can significantly impact the connection between clinicians and clients. While certain personal details about therapists are inherently evident, the decision of when and how much to disclose remains a complex challenge for many practitioners. When clients inquire about the personal lives of their therapists, it often poses a dilemma regarding the appropriate response, with potential implications for the perceived professionalism of the clinician.

This interactive training, facilitated by Tonya Logan, Founder and CEO of Kayla’s Village, aims to address this challenge by using her own personal narrative as a case study. By sharing her experiences, Logan intends to provide a practical framework for clinicians to navigate the delicate balance of self-disclosure in their therapeutic interactions. The training encourages participants to approach client inquiries as opportunities for connection and growth, framing challenges within a positive and strength-based context.

Participants will be guided to develop a deeper understanding of how seemingly threatening questions from clients can be reframed to avoid prejudicial responses. The workshop emphasizes viewing these moments as chances to model effective communication and disclosure. By doing so, clinicians can contribute to the personal and professional growth of their clients, fostering an environment that encourages openness and understanding. Ultimately, this training seeks to empower clinicians with the skills to explain challenging information in a constructive manner, promoting a forward-moving, growth-oriented therapeutic relationship.

About the Presenter

Tonya M. Logan,LICSW and LCSW-C, has over 30 years of professional clinical experience working with those managing conflict and trauma. A native Washingtonian, she received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia and her master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Ms. Logan spent the bulk of her career, in D.C. and Maryland, working with biological parents and foster parents by securing permanency whether via reunification, adoption, or independent living. She was the clinical director of a program which provided in-home services to families at-risk of abuse and/or neglect in an attempt to strengthen and stabilize them so they would be diverted from the child welfare system. Ms. Logan was a contractor with an organization in which she facilitated 10-week grief groups for those impacted by homicide following her certification as a grief recovery specialist. She transitioned to being the supervisory social worker in a non-public school for students diagnosed with learning differences, emotional challenges, and/or autism. Ms. Logan is the Founder and CEO of Kayla’s Village, begun in July 2007, which strives to be the premier provider of innovative seminars and supportive resources for individuals, families, professionals, and communities.

Additionally, she is a clinician providing counseling to individuals and couples, provides contractual supervision, teaches Family Violence and Child Abuse as an adjunct professor at Trinity Washington University, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Center for Infant and Child Loss. Ms. Logan is an active church member of Trinity AME Zion Church and published author, “Mommie’s Bright Sunshine,” speaking to the reality that we can move beyond our trials, tragedies, and trauma without allowing it to define our future. Ms. Logan is the parent of two children, one by adoption and one by birth, and has hosted two exchange students. Obviously, she tries to tailor her life to help others in need.

This workshop Offers 3 Continuing Education Credits
This webinar is recorded and will not grant live credits.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Analyze whether sharing information from their past or present, personally or professionally, is clinically appropriate, including critical analysis of various theoretical models and ethical considerations in self-disclosure decisions.
  2. Assess and incorporate the clinical use of challenging information in order to increase rapport with clients while strengthening the therapeutic relationship, including the examination of complex case studies and research on the impact of self-disclosure in therapeutic relationships.
  3. Demonstrate to clients how to use one’s challenges to move forward rather than hamper growth, including the development of advanced communication skills and strategies to model growth-oriented responses to challenges in therapy

Agenda:

20 minutes          Classifying Information and Threats

                                                Low disclosure

                                                Middle disclosure

                                                High disclosure

15 minutes          Historical Perspective

                                                Freud’s Approach

                                                Humanist Movement

                                                Feminist Movement

                                                12-Step Programs

                                                Reality TV

10 minutes          Johari Window

                                                Open Area

                                                Hidden Area

                                                Blind Area

                                                Unknown Area

30 minutes          Perception vs. Prejudice

                                                Examples of reframing negativity into positivity

                                                Discussion of prejudice as related to diagnoses

                                                Highlighting perceptions and prejudice in family clutter example

30 minutes          Reframing

                                                We must focus to see strengths

45 minutes          Types of Disclosure

                                                Deliberate Disclosing

                                                Sharing a secret

                                                Unavoidable disclosures

                                                Therapeutic disclosure

                                                Medical disclosure

                                                Social disclosure

                                                Accidental disclosure

                                                Disclosure at work

30 minutes          Scenarios

                                                Susan

                                                Jessica

                                                Client Googled therapist

This presentation is open to:
  • Social Workers
  • Professional Counselors
  • Therapists
  • Psychologists
  • Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
  • Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
  • Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
Course Level: intermediate
Level of Clinician: intermediate
  • New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
  • Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
  • Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
  • Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives

Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.

Disability Access - If you require ADA accommodations, please contact our office 30 days or more before the event. We cannot ensure accommodations without adequate prior notification. Please Note: Licensing Boards change regulations often, and while we attempt to stay abreast of their most recent changes, if you have questions or concerns about this course meeting your specific board’s approval, we recommend you contact your board directly to obtain a ruling. The grievance policy for trainings provided by the NEFESH INTERNATIONAL is available here Satisfactory Completion Participants must have paid the tuition fee, logged in and out each day, attended the entire workshop, and completed an evaluation to receive a certificate (If this is a pre-recorded program, a post-test with a passing grade of 80% to receive a certificate.) Failure to log in or out will result in forfeiture of credit for the entire course. No exceptions will be made. Partial credit is not available. Certificates are available after satisfactory course completion by clicking here.
There is no conflict of interest or commercial support for this program.
  • NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
  • CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
    CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0129.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0325.
  • Therapist Express is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0774.
Refund Policy: Full Refund until 48 hours before scheduled date.
48 hours before: full refund less $5.00 processing fee. After event no refund will be given.
*exclusions apply for reasonable need and cause.