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Re: how does your therapist dress?

Posted by Dinah on July 22, 2009, at 23:06:34

In reply to how does your therapist dress?, posted by friesandcoke on July 22, 2009, at 22:29:58

My therapist used to dress more formally than he does now. Now it's usually khakis and a casual untuched shirt. Or jeans.

I didn't like the time he wore boat shoes with no socks, because his ankles were hairless and didn't look very healthy. If he wore sandals, I'd hope he kept his toenails short.

But in general, I like him better casual. He seems more relaxed, I feel more relaxed. Back when he was very trendy, he intimidated me a bit.

I'd be ok with capris or sandals or bare feet even. Moreso than I would be with a formal suit really. If I were seeing a woman, I'd probably feel most comfortable if they wore clothes that I could see myself wearing.

But I was also fine with a dog in the office. In fact that was the only thing I did like about the hypnotherapist. She did ask me first if it was ok.

I guess maybe it depends on how a person sees therapy. If a person sees therapy as a business arrangement where the therapist imparts knowledge and the client learns what they need to know, business attire would feel more comfortable. It would invest the wearer with an aura of competence and authority.

If a person sees therapy as a "real" relationship that is designed to be beneficial to one of the participants, they might be more comfortable with attire that would encourage comfort and bonding.

That works out pretty well, actually. Since I'm sure to some extent, how a therapist dresses shows not only who they are as a person but how they see the therapy process.

So it's all good. Their attire tells you something about them. Your expectations of their attire tells you something about you. There is no right or wrong about any of it. Just personal preference.

Maybe you could develop a screening question around what a therapist thinks the therapy process should be, and how the therapist sees their own role. If they emphasize professionalism and more formal attitudes, their dress will probably reflect that. If they emphasize a more emotion based attitude, their attire will probably reflect that too.

 

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poster:Dinah thread:908083
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20090706/msgs/908097.html