The Journey for Authentic Relationship: Exploring the Decision to Self-Disclose Sexual Orientation

Abstract

Through hermeneutic phenomenology, I explore my experience of self-disclosing my sexual orientation to a group of Clinical Pastoral Education students during initial phases of the supervisor-teacher relationship. My purpose or intent was to come to a clearer and deeper understanding of the meaning of self-disclosing my sexual orientation as a teaching supervisor. The exploration included unfolding meaning of the self through my role as the provisional supervisor, the Roman Catholic man, and the mature supervisor. Through these interviews and reflections with each part of self, insights and interpretations emerged. The hermeneutic circle was realized accessing external sources a number of times to review themes and deepen my insights and interpretations. The findings indicate that the nature of authenticity with self and others is constructed, constantly shifting, changing and ever deepening. A process of discernment, the internal forum, emerges which takes into consideration safety and security, the cultural, political and social context, and authenticity in order to surface the best approach in the situation. Further, the teaching supervisor needs to be conscious of his/her underpinning theology and the ways in which this informs and impacts the choices she/he makes in self-disclosing sexual orientation to students.