Self-disclosure in internship interview

[annel]

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I applied to UCCs. At each site, I asked "as a supervisor, how would you deal with a supervisee who had counter transference with a client." My goal in asking this question was to get a sense of how the supervisor would deal with emotion in supervision.

In one interview, the supervisor said to that question "I recommend all interns seek out their own therapy. As a supervisor I can see a difference (in terms of knowing their own stuff) between a supervisee who's done their own personal work and one who hasn't."

In general, I would not disclose I've been in therapy. I walked into that interview with no intention of self-disclosure. In this specific circumstance, because the supervisor was stating she preferred working with interns who knew themselves, I felt compelled to let her know I've been in therapy, and it's positively impacted me. I also mentioned the stigma that exists in psychology around therapy, and she mentioned that "I think that stigma is frustrating and unfortunate."

So while in general, I would say self disclosure is risky, it felt like a good call given what she told me. I was also encouraged to be authentic and "put it all on the line" by a friend who matched to her top choice UCC. She gave me the impression that UCCs specifically want to see enthusiasm during interviews, and may be more comfortable with quirks than other sorts of sites.

Anyway, do you think I made an appropriate call in this situation?

 

[erg923]

Seeing that over a quarter of a US population has seen a mental health provider of some sort at some point in their lives (not sure what the numbrs are for actual "therapy" though), Im not sure its as big a deal as you might think. Disclosing disorder, details, and other struggles pertaining to it I think is what is generally NOT recommended. Being in therapy is generally not much of a suprise to anyone in this profession since it is so heavily encouraged in graduate training programs as a way of "knowing yourself" or struggling with the stress of graduate school.

 

[463951]

I applied to UCCs. At each site, I asked "as a supervisor, how would you deal with a supervisee who had counter transference with a client." My goal in asking this question was to get a sense of how the supervisor would deal with emotion in supervision.

In one interview, the supervisor said to that question "I recommend all interns seek out their own therapy. As a supervisor I can see a difference (in terms of knowing their own stuff) between a supervisee who's done their own personal work and one who hasn't."

In general, I would not disclose I've been in therapy. I walked into that interview with no intention of self-disclosure. In this specific circumstance, because the supervisor was stating she preferred working with interns who knew themselves, I felt compelled to let her know I've been in therapy, and it's positively impacted me. I also mentioned the stigma that exists in psychology around therapy, and she mentioned that "I think that stigma is frustrating and unfortunate."

So while in general, I would say self disclosure is risky, it felt like a good call given what she told me. I was also encouraged to be authentic and "put it all on the line" by a friend who matched to her top choice UCC. She gave me the impression that UCCs specifically want to see enthusiasm during interviews, and may be more comfortable with quirks than other sorts of sites.

Anyway, do you think I made an appropriate call in this situation?

I definitely think you made the right call, and I would have done the same thing if I was in that situation. I think that you self-disclosing this to a TD who recommends interns seek out therapy will work positively for you.

 

[LivingOffLoans]

Nice response, annel. I have assisted faculty before in interviewing applicants for graduate programs, and we definitely would have enjoyed a response to a question like that. Good instinct on your end.

 

[annel]

Phew. Thanks for that feedback all. I thought perhaps I had committed one of the "kisses of death" by talking about my own therapy.

 

[MCParent]

...the supervisor was stating she preferred working with interns who knew themselves, I felt compelled to let her know I've been in therapy, and it's positively impacted me....

I too think you made a right call, and I think the supervisor is sleazy for making you feel compelled to respond to something that, if asked as a question, would bring HR wrath down on her.