What negative outcomes might Debra have been considering in this dilemma for either the client or herself?

Question

Debra Masters, a social worker in private practice, conducted an initial interview with Stephanie Railsback, a young woman also working in the helping professions, who was conflicted about her sexual orientation. Debra was a lesbian herself, open, but discreetly so. As the interview proceeded Debra was increasingly distracted by the question of whether she should disclose her sexual orientation to this client and, if so, when. Her anxiety intensified to such a degree that she had to leave the interview to compose herself and decide what to do to resolve this dilemma.

Answer 1

Debra considered the possibility that if she did not disclose her sexual orientation, Stephanie may find out from another source and feel very betrayed due to a perceived lack of honestly and integrity on Debra’s part. That this would sabotage the therapeutic relationship, perhaps beyond repair. This dilemma also became such a process issue for Debra that effectively continuing therapy was not possible. Debra also considered that such a disclosure presented during the first interview, before there was any opportunity to establish trust in the relationship, might cause Stephanie to think of Debra as needy or anxious. In addition, if Debra did not disclose that she was a lesbian and Stephanie learned about it from someone else, Stephanie might suspect that Debra was not confident and secure enough with her own sexual orientation to be effective as her therapist. Last, Debra was also sensitive to the fact that whatever she decided or did in this relationship was under a different, higher level of scrutiny due to the fact that Stephanie, working as a helping professional herself, had much of the same training and skills that Debra had and knew the standards of practice for the profession. Debra stood not only to harm the client with the wrong practice decision, but also lose face with another professional and possibly harm her professional reputation.