The Latino therapist's use of self-disclosure in sessions as a tool to improve the therapeutic relationship

The problem. The purpose of this dissertation was to compare Latino and non-Latino therapists' perception and values of their use of Self-disclosure during session.; Method. The study utilized a survey research method, which involved the mailing of a self administered questionnaire via e-mail addresses. Questionnaire data was coded and entered into a statistical program for analysis. One-tail statistical tests were used to test the null hypotheses.; The following were the research hypotheses of this study: (I) Latino therapists will report that they use self-disclosure more frequently than non-Latino therapists will. (II) Latino therapists will state that they perceive that self-disclosure improves the client-therapist relationship more than non-Latino therapists will. (III) Latino therapists will state that they perceive that therapist self-disclosure opens client-therapist dialogue and the development of cultural understanding more than non-Latino therapists will. (IV) Latino therapists will state that they perceive therapist self-disclosure as a technique that increases therapeutic involvement more than non-Latino therapists will. (V) Latino therapists will tend to perceive self-disclosure as part of their culture more than non-Latino therapists will.; Results. The four first research hypotheses were accepted (p < .05). These results indicate that there is a significant difference in the perception of self-disclosure and its effects in therapy between Latino and non-Latino therapists.; The fifth research hypotheses was rejected, there was no significance at p < .5 and p < .01. This result indicates that Latino therapists do not perceive their self-disclosure as part of their culture more than non-Latino therapists.; Overall the results indicate the importance of self-disclosure as a tool to improve the therapeutic relationship and therapy continuation.