Which stage in Harriet Wadeson’s framework is characterized by decreasing defenses and increased vulnerability in the disclosure process?

Which stage in Harriet Wadeson’s framework is characterized by decreasing defenses and increased vulnerability in the disclosure process?

• A. Decrease defenses
• B. Imagery
• C. Objectification
• D. Permanence

Answer: (A)

In this framework, the process of client disclosure unfolds as stages, starting with a opening where defenses are lowered and the person feels more vulnerable. When defenses drop, the client is more able to share personal feelings, experiences, and thoughts that were previously guarded. This moment—where vulnerability increases and protective barriers lessen—creates the foundation for deeper exploration through the artwork and conversation. The option that names this exact phase is the one describing decreasing defenses, because it directly captures the act of letting guard down to permit genuine disclosure. The other terms describe subsequent aspects of the process: using imagery to express inner experiences, externalizing content as objects, or recognizing enduring meaning in the material.

In this framework, the process of client disclosure unfolds as stages, starting with a opening where defenses are lowered and the person feels more vulnerable. When defenses drop, the client is more able to share personal feelings, experiences, and thoughts that were previously guarded. This moment—where vulnerability increases and protective barriers lessen—creates the foundation for deeper exploration through the artwork and conversation. The option that names this exact phase is the one describing decreasing defenses, because it directly captures the act of letting guard down to permit genuine disclosure. The other terms describe subsequent aspects of the process: using imagery to express inner experiences, externalizing content as objects, or recognizing enduring meaning in the material.