I would say it depends where you are working as some places I can imagine being fairly casual whilst others being quite smart and I guess this is in part dependent on your clients.
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
I once saw a psychologist who wore very very casual clothes. I was more well dressed than him. It was awkward and he looked unprofessional Basically you want to look like you put some effort in, not at home watching tv.
My psychologist wears a casual shirt and trousers,to be honest as long as they look tidy,i don't really bother....I've seen some eccentricly dressed professionals but again,doesn't matter as long as they look smart with it.
I once saw a psychologist who wore very very casual clothes. I was more well dressed than him. It was awkward and he looked unprofessional Basically you want to look like you put some effort in, not at home watching tv.
The other day my therapist was wearing jeans, and as I'd come from school, I was wearing a srs bsns dress, so I looked about ten times smarter than her! I didn't mind it a lot, but I did think it was a bit weird. I can't swan up to teach my youths wearing jeans and I don't think she should swan up to be a therapist in jeans either.
But on the other hand, I wonder if when I was younger I might have been a little intimidated by someone dressed really smartly, and would perhaps have found it easier to talk to someone who seemed a little more approachable, so I think it's a fine balance really!
It's a difficult one as you want to be comfortable, seem approachable and be on the same level as the person your working with and yet professional at the same time!
Any thoughts on counsellors wearing perfume or aftershave? I usually do but not sure if its appropiate or not?
I wouldn't want to sit in the same room with a counsellor that stunk but equally some perfumes give me headache and so sitting in the room with a counsellor that wore very heavy perfume would be just as bad.
You say that your a volunteer counsellor and im wondering what training you have done as some of this may have been covered and if not maybe you could ask the place your going to be working at?
When we lose twenty pounds... we may be losing the twenty best pounds we have! We may be losing the pounds that contain our genius, our humanity, our love and honesty. ~Woody Allen
Is a chocolate muffin loving glitter ball
In my opinion, wear something that's smart/tidy but not overly formal!
A nice shirt and some jeans should be just fine.
Once I had a counsellor that wore a formal suit and I felt extremely intimidated. I didn't go back! Think about something you might wear to a casual dinner with friends.
I was going through this a few months ago as I was in your position back then. You want to be comfortable and be yourself but obviously some stuff with heavy slogans or branding might not be appropriate. I would say with hindsight try not to worry too much, it's more important that you are listening!
I went with slacks in the end (like corduroy trousers) and either a smart top or a plain top.
I think that it all depends on your field. I am a drug and alcohol counselor and I wear all sorts of stuff. I wear jeans and super hero t-shirts, I wear nice dresses, I keep it real.
The important thing I think is that my patients know that I am a real person and that I care about them.
Most of my psychotherapists wear smartish clothes, but a couple wear pretty quirky clothes which I think is really nice because it mixes things up and there's less of an "us and them" feeling if they dress a little quirky and we're a little quirky, kinda like "oh they're a little odd too"
Maybe be aware, as well, that drastic changes in your appearance might have an impact on your clients. One of my therapists had a rather striking black beard which suddenly vanished a few weeks in. He looked completely different without it and for those first few sessions without it I found myself oddly less comfortable with him.... :-P
When I was in a more depressed state and had a difficult time looking presentable, I did not care for professionals who dressed up a lot (suits, ties, pencil skirts, etc). I felt it highlighted the contrast between them and me and elevated them to a plane beyond me and helped them treat me poorly. The ones who dressed in a more down to earth fashion (Khakis and polos and more casual skirts) tended to treat the people they were treating as more human.
I've seen a range of styles over the years! My first therapist used to dress like she was colourblind, a wacky range of clothes (she looked cool though), and then one day suddenly switched to sophisticated earthy tones (still looked cool).
In my last placement, the therapists kind of had their own styles. Though the men tended to wear trousers and shirts in the winter, and lighter trousers and polo shirts in the summer. One therapist used to wear quite comfortable clothes as she did a movement therapy type thing, and the art therapist was all flowing scarves.
I never did see a therapist wear jeans to work, with the exception of a couple of therapists on the night shift when I was in residential. I was once at a day unit and a student social worker came in in jeans, the OT had to pull her aside and tell her it wasn't appropriate.
I used to have male psychiatrists who came to work in full suits and I found it extremely intimidating. I don't think I am alone in that as most now come in suit trousers and a smart shirt and jumper. It is considerably better.
As far as scents are concerned, that's a tricky one. I don't remember having a male therapist who ever wore cologne/aftershave, and I think it could have been problematic if I had with regards to 'triggers'. But not smelling bad is also very, very important! I have had female therapists who wore perfumes or scented creams and I would err with caution with that as it used to have some effect on my attachments to them (don't know if that's a good thing or not).
Though tbh I've probably made the above much more complicated than it actually is. Dress smart enough but not too smart, no jeans, make sure your personal hygiene is good, and most of all, if your client has an opinion on it, it's all part of therapy and can be learnt from.
