Neutrality In Social Work

Ultimately, when a counselling professional is in a session with a client, the content should be focused on the client and their feelings. Therefore, I believe there is a fine line about when to open up about your personal life and reflect your own feelings on a particular topic that may come from a place of emotion rather than neutrality, which is what we as practitioners should strive for (Simon, 1990). However, as Myers and Hayes state, this notion of neutrality may be a little bit outdated, if not completely inaccurate in today’s society (2006). It is evident that we as social workers bring our pasts, opinions and biases with us to the interview, and there will be times where our personal experiences will want to guide where the conversation

This can make it confusing for worker’s to know when to disclose. However, it is evident that the self does not present itself as a separate identity, and the social worker exists only in conjunction with the self of the client in an interpersonal process, rather than a separate figure of constant objectivity (Ardd-Caddigan & Pozzuto, 2008). Therefore according to this interpersonal perspective, the relationship between the client and social worker is constantly developing while in the interview process, feeding off of one another. The idea of neutrality may not be valid anymore. Furthermore, according to Reupert’s findings, therapists saw themselves as individualistic and unique, playing a prominent role in the therapeutic relationship. They saw both their personal and professional self contributing to the alliance (2007). These tie into the common Western culture that emphasizes individuality and distinctiveness (Reupert, 2007). In saying this, deciding when to open up and express this side of the personal self to the client warns

Bogo also adds to the uncertainty to state that self-disclosure is a controversial subject matter (2006, p.101). In general, it seems like self-disclosure has a lot to do with the specific client and the strength of the relationship at hand. The exact same self-disclosure can evoke two opposite reactions for clients. For example, when a social worker shared the date of her birthday one client felt as though this increased the therapeutic alliance while the other client felt as though the social worker was taking the spotlight away from her and focusing it on herself (Goldstein, 1994). This shows how unique our clients are and that what works with one client may not work for the other. Furthermore, the type of self-disclosure matters as well. Intimate self-disclosures run the risk of crossing boundaries more than general self-disclosures do (Myers & Hayes, 2006). For example, it may be okay to state that you have children to your client, but it would be inappropriate to discuss the problematic issues you are facing with your spouse at the time (Myers & Hayes, 2006). Making a connection to demonstrate that you are a real person outside of your professional role may be helpful to the client, but bringing up your own personal