Client disclosure and psychotherapy session evaluations.

Clients' percentage of disclosure (first person, subjective utterances) was compared with evaluative session ratings by clients, therapists, and an external rater across 43 psychotherapy sessions. In contrast to observers' perceptions, participants' perceptions of session depth and value were not correlated with client disclosure. Sessions high in disclosure (relative to the client's usual level) were rated from all three perspectives as relatively rough, unpleasant, difficult, and dangerous.