The CCCPS chooses to adhere to Standard 7.04 of the APA Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (2002) by identifying our expectations of trainees with respect to self-disclosure of personal information during training. We do not require trainees to self-disclose specific personal information as a matter of course. However, our training model is one that values both personal and professional development.
We believe that becoming a competent and ethical psychologist often involves exploration of those experiences that have shaped one’s worldview. In both individual and group supervision, the supervisors seek to create a safe environment for trainees to willingly engage in the process of self-examination in the service of their training and in the service of their clients.
This process may involve trainee self-disclosure of personal information as it relates to the trainee’s clinical work and/or professional development. Thus, trainees at the CCCPS can expect to engage in some degree of self-exploration in the context of safe supervisory relationships as a means of furthering their professional development.
As noted in the Ethical Principles, we may require self-disclosure of personal information if the information is necessary to evaluate or obtain assistance for students whose personal problems could reasonably be judged to be preventing them from performing their training or professionally related activities in a competent manner or posing a threat to the students or others (APA, 2002).*
*American Psychological Association (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060-1073.