This study investigated phototherapy as a technique to increase self-disclosure and interviewer-interviewee alliance in an intake interview conducted in 2 meetings with Ethiopian immigrants to Israel. Forty participants were assigned in equal numbers to an experimental (phototherapy) group and a control group. All semistructured interviews were conducted by 1 professional counselor at a learning center, recorded, and analyzed by 2 independent raters. Results indicate a higher level of self-disclosure (on both simple and intimate levels) in the phototherapy group. Client-counselor alliance (emotional contact) tended to be higher in the experimental group, but the significance was only marginal. A positive relationship between self-disclosure and working alliance was revealed only with the expression of feelings and the sharing of issues related to work. © 2004 Society for Psychotherapy Research.

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self disclosure rating scale doctor patient relation immigrant experimentation Israel methodology human controlled study priority journal interview psychotherapy patient counseling male female medical documentation clinical article Article Ethiopia adult emotionality mental hospital health practitioner Learning