How much information is too much information?

I am currently assisting a client who is experiencing significant challenges and appears to be caught in a negative cycle, finding it difficult to envision a way out. Through our sessions, I have been gently guiding her towards breaking free from this pattern. In a recent session, the intensity escalated, prompting me to share my personal journey, complete with its challenges, complexities and messy details. My intention was to offer her a sense of hope by demonstrating that - if I can do it, you can do it too.

This client and I have a preexisting relationship from our previous work together, and my decision to share my story seemed to unsettle her perception of me. We concluded the session on a positive note with some tasking for her... however I could she she was visibly uncomfortable. I now find myself questioning whether I divulged too much and potentially compromised my credibility.

Initially, I believed that drawing upon my own experiences -- the lived experience of hardship -- would lend me greater authority and conviction in guiding her. However, now I am wondering if I need to exercise more discretion and strategy around sharing my story with my clients.

Keen to hear about thoughts / experiences on this from you all.... what do you think? How much information is too much information? And what are some other factors to be considering here prior to sharing?

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