What is the primary guideline for a counselor's self-disclosure?

The primary guideline for a counselor's self-disclosure is that it should benefit both the client and the counselor. This approach reinforces the ethical practice of prioritizing client welfare while also allowing the counselor to create a more authentic and transparent relationship with the client. Self-disclosure can help clients feel understood and connected, potentially leading to deeper therapeutic engagement. It also enables counselors to model vulnerability and appropriate sharing, fostering a trusting relationship within the therapeutic context.

In this framework, it’s essential that any disclosure made serves the therapeutic goals and enhances the client's experience rather than addressing the counselor’s personal needs or comfort. When self-disclosure is utilized appropriately, it can be a valuable tool in facilitating client growth and insight, affirming its dual benefit.

The other options do not align with professional ethical standards: focusing on the counselor's personal needs runs the risk of undermining the client's therapeutic process, asserting that self-disclosure should never occur disregards its potential benefits, and insisting that it must be frequent and consistent does not allow for the context-specific nature of effective counseling interventions.