When Your Health Enters The Room: Navigating Therapist Self-Disclosure About Health Challenges

Panel Discussion


Workshop Overview

Some clinicians share about their health challenges through their therapy website bios, some disclose one-on-one in session, and some therapists choose not to disclose at all. How we navigate the client conversation(s) that follow is equally as important as whether or not we share.

On this peer-focused panel, we will be discussing how fellow clinicians navigate sharing with clients about their own health challenges, if at all, and how they manage the clinical impact on their client relationships and work. There will be an opportunity for audience participation in the form of sharing insights and asking questions to the panelists.

This workshop will be recorded and available for 30 days following the event.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO

  1. Discuss different approaches to self-disclosure about personal health challenges

  2. List five approaches to self-disclosing with clients

  3. Describe the clinical impact of therapists health challenges for clients

  4. Describe the clinical impact of therapists self-disclosure for clients


PRESENTED BY

Michelle Horton
LMFT

 
 

Michelle Horton, MA LMFT has a private practice providing online therapy for clients based in CA and during non-Covid times sees clients in-person in Encinitas, CA after relocating from San Francisco. Michelle also works as an advisor and consultant with start-ups and businesses in the mental health and wellness, digital health and positive psychology spaces. She has over 15 years of experience working with individuals, couples, families and parents in community mental health, school and private practice settings.

In her private practice, Michelle provides individual therapy and counseling for career-driven women navigating life transitions, new moms and moms-to-be and founders and entrepreneurs. She helps people who seek a successful and fulfilled life but feel buried under stress, anxiety, imposter syndrome, perfectionism, self-doubt and feelings of overwhelm. Through a warm, collaborative and non-judgmental approach she empowers people to meet their goals and find greater meaning and connection allowing them to thrive in their lives, relationships and career.

Michelle is a graduate of Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. Michelle is a Certified Daring Way Facilitator incorporating Brené Brown's research and methodologies into her work with individuals as well as offering workshops, public speaking and group facilitation.

In addition to expertise in maternal mental health, entrepreneurship and women’s health, as a biracial person and therapist of color she also enjoys focusing her work on supporting those with underrepresented identities including people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, cross cultural experiences and diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Michelle has navigated her own personal history of chronic health challenges including difficult diagnoses in early adulthood, fertility hurdles and high risk pregnancies and loss while working as a therapist and entrepreneur. She enjoys supporting other individuals and fellow therapists in their personal health journeys.

Visit www.michellehortontherapy.com to learn more.