Effects of therapist's self-disclosure and a physical barrier on subjects' perceptions of the therapist: an analogue study.

This analogue study was designed to assess the effects of a therapist's self-disclosure and a physical barrier between therapist and client on subjects' perceptions of the therapist. College students viewed one of four videotaped therapy interactions during which an actor, playing the role of a therapist, did or did not disclose, and where a barrier was or was not present. Students rated the mock therapist on expertness, trustworthiness, and attractiveness. Analysis showed that students rated him higher on trustworthiness and attractiveness when he disclosed than when he did not disclose. Moreover, the mock therapist's disclosure had more effect on students' ratings when a barrier was present than when no barrier was present.