Abstract
The necessity of client disclosure was initially emphasised by psychoanalytic theorists and disclosure of experiences, behaviours or emotions continues to be a central aspect of contemporary therapies for a range of difficulties. Empirically a debate has emerged in the literature around potential benefits and negative consequences of client disclosure. Exploration of the process of disclosure and barriers to disclosure in therapy for clients with disordered eating has been limited. The current study explored barriers to disclosure in participants (n=120, 95% women), with experience of therapeutic intervention for current or historical eating distress, utilising thematic analysis. It also explored the language used by this group when describing their experiences of disclosure and treatment utilising metaphor analysis. Barriers to disclosure described were represented by themes around (1) internal processes influencing participants’ decision to disclose in therapy; (2) the impact of treatment context on the decision to disclose; and, (3) the influence of the therapeutic relationship. Metaphorical concepts were identified around disclosure, treatment context and recovery. These concepts further emphasised the challenges clients may experience when considering disclosure in therapy within a treatment system which they perceived to be very powerful. When clients anticipated the impact of disclosure, shame and vulnerability as well as potential reactions of the therapist or treatment system were feared. To support clients in considering whether disclosure is helpful or necessary for them, it may be useful for the process of disclosure and its potential benefits or costs to be explored at the outset of therapy.