Description: 

To disclose is to be honest with information one might otherwise withhold. Medical providers such as myself recognize the importance of disclosure, as our abilities to help a patient are limited if the information we are given is limited also. It's hard to understand people when we're oblivious to their circumstances.

Professor Canavan described a similar need for disclosure in the social realm of academia. Academia is a field fogged by professionalism. Professionalism itself is not harmful, but it can be mistaken for perfectionism. Perfectionism disguised as professionalism causes people to portray only their achievements and strengths. Our interpretation of what's real is impacted by what we see. Only seeing the best all the time can have negative consequences on self-expectations. Professionals may feel compelled to be perfect in every regard, to overwork themselves, and to disregard their mental health in pursuit of being equal or greater than their peers. This reality, while not always obvious, is false.

Many professionals stuck in this cycle of perfectionism may suffer from burnout, distress, and poor mental health. Professor Canavan prescribes disclosure as a remedy to combat perfectionism in academia. Disclosure means expressing one's true self, not one's perfect self.

Reflection: 

This lecture was provided by my late professor, Ms. Canavan, a well-spoken, honest person. Her candidness about vulnerabilities made me and others feel secure about our place as honors students. We all have weaknesses, and many of us struggle with doubts. When a person authentically presents themselves, strengths and imperfections included, it creates an environment where others feel they can do the same. 

Looking back on this lecture, I've wondered if the values that Professor Canavan discussed and upheld are the cause of her strength as a teacher. Her self-disclosures were well-timed, appropriate, in-frequent, and professional. It painted the classroom with colors of humanity. I felt dignified by how she spoke to us publicly and privately. She spoke to us as intelligent beings and yet would review the most fundamental basics in English because one of us (often myself) wasn't familiar with a concept. I felt safe asking what could be interpreted as dumb questions because I knew I wouldn't be judged for it. I didn't feel a need to portray myself as perfect, as she never expected perfection. I was only expected to try and demonstrate an intention to learn.

As an aspiring therapist, I'd like to create such an environment. I want to create an environment of unconditional positive regard for my clients, as Professor Canavan did for us. I want to make a space where clients feel accepted as they are. There, clients can celebrate their wins and feel comfortable discussing their vulnerabilities. 

I learned from Professor Canavan the need to create an environment that welcomes disclosures and how sometimes self-disclosure is necessary. Self-disclosure in therapy is an ethical grey area. It's alright, but it can be harmful when done improperly. While I'm open to disclosure in my personal life in an attempt to normalize things such as therapy, food-pantry utilization, and other issues, I have been opposed to self-disclosure as a therapist. After discussing disclosure here, I would like to be more open to using self-disclosure as a therapeutic tool. I wouldn't be comfortable using it regularly, nor would that be ethical. However, it may be useful if my self-disclosure could help the client feel understood, overcome a challenge, or provide some therapeutic value.