Yalom notes that the issues of transference, self-disclosure, and transparency relate to qualities of the

leader. Explore one of these concepts and discuss how it relates to leadership functioning and group
functioning in the group you are attending.
a. Choose one of the concepts of transference, transparency, or self-disclosure.
b. Discuss and define the concept in relationship to the function of a leader.
c. Discuss how the concept relates to your experience of the group and work towards group goal
attainment.

One of Freud’s close associates, Dr. Sandor Ferenczi, believed that a mutual, honest, and
transparent relationship with clients was a transformative force of therapy and he challenged
the classical role of a psychoanalyst that took a more aloof and omniscient role (Yalom &
Leszcz, 2020). When a therapist increases their own transparency, they provide a more human
relationship in the therapy venture (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020). This allows a client to be considered
a full collaborator in the therapeutic process and creates a better therapeutic alliance between
the therapist and the client (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020). Additionally, when therapists increase their
transparency, clients are made to be in the here-and-now and they begin to see the therapist as
a real person rather than seeing the therapist as anonymous or opaque (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020).

According to Yalom and Leszcz (2020), considerable research has shown that when a therapist
is transparent and self-discloses, it facilitates greater openness between group members as well
as between family members in family therapy. When a therapist is transparent with their
clients, clients often feel supported and self-disclosure begins to be normalized, allowing clients
to feel as if they can self-disclose and be transparent as well (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020). Yalom and
Leszcz (2020) described a group that was led by a well-known therapist in which the therapist
was transparent and self-disclosed personal information to the group. A member of the group
described feeling liberated and free after hearing the therapist be transparent because he “no
longer felt alone in his ‘weirdness’” (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020).

According to Yalom and Leszcz (2020), there are different ways in which a therapist can be
transparent, depending on the needs of the group and depending on the therapist’s personal
style. In group therapy, therapists can be transparent in order to facilitate a resolution to
transference or a therapist can be transparent in order to model therapeutic norms (Yalom &
Leszcz, 2020). Additionally, transparency from the therapist can help group members learn
from interpersonal interactions and can increase the relationship between the therapist and
the group members (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020). Furthermore, when the therapist self-discloses
they are effectively acknowledging and respecting the group members, which is demonstrated
by the therapists own vulnerability and transparency (Yalom & Leszcz, 2020).
After reading about self-disclosure and transparency this week, I am excited to incorporate
more transparency in my own work. From the reading this week, I have learned that
therapeutic transparency can encourage a more open and fluid dialogue between the therapist
and the client, which can lead to greater changes for the clients. Additionally, therapeutic
transparency can create “buy-in” from clients, make them feel more comfortable, encourage
clients to be committed to the therapeutic process, and increase their trust in the therapist
(Turns, Springer, & Sibley, 2019).

References
Turns, B., Springer, P. R., & Sibley, D. S. (2019). Removing the “mystery” in therapy: transparency as a

continuous intervention in family psychotherapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 30(1), 1-19.

Yalom, I. D. & Leszcz, M. (2020). The theory and practice of group psychotherapy (6th ed.). Basic Books.