[Mountaindewed]

Does anyone think more then necessary of what they should wear to a therapy or doctor appointment? I’ve always been like this. I thought it was called dressing to impress. I’m just careful about what I wear depending on the person. I bought this new shirt today that has a picture of this girl summoning the spirt Bloody Mary. I’m sure the people at the office wouldn’t be thrilled to see that shirt especially since my therapist doesn’t know me. I also like looking as slim as possible at my appointments.

Does anyone else get like this?

Why would the people at the therapist office give a hoot?

[Wonderfalls]

When I was working I always saw my therapist after lunch so I was wearing a suit with jewelry, make up and heels. When I left work I reverted to blue jeans with a shirt or plain t-shirt. Also put on weight. I always wondered if the change affected how he saw me, but never asked. With this therapist it's always jeans and a shirt.. I figure she's lucky I take a shower.

[piggy momma]

I’m pretty predictable.

I wear a uniform to work, and outside of that I’m in black leggings and a pig t-shirt. That’s as fancy as I get

[WarmFuzzySocks]

I’ve noticed that I tend to choose clothing I like, that colors that make me feel good. Also that I tend to choose outfits that make me feel put together, which is partly in response to my tendency to fall apart and also because of my need to feel that I “match competence” with my therapist.

[ChickenNoodleSoup]

I try to wear comfortable cloths if possible. Sweatpants, wide shirt, always the same socks.

[Lemoncake]

I sometimes see R online when I'm not in London, some sessions I've done whilst still in pyjamas. If it's after class I might be semi formal with make up. Other times just T-shirts and jeans.

Originally Posted by Jersey 4

Why would the people at the therapist office give a hoot?

I didn’t want this to come off as rude. I was quite curious why the people in the therapist office would care about the shirt.

[CartDown]

I'm a long sleeve shirts under short sleeve shirts and jeans type of chick. I usually don't wear make up, but I do if I'm dealing with too much stress and I'm breaking out. I rather look like a clown than a crackhead, you know what I'm saying?

[nottrustin]

I almost always go directly from work so I wear my work attire. Dress pants/skirt/ with a blouse or dresses. If not coming from work I wear jean's and a blouse. I never wear t shirts or sweatpants in outside my house.

[nicoleflynn]

I always dress up in a dress; I have always loved beautiful clothes.

[Mountaindewed]

Originally Posted by Jersey 4

Why would the people at the therapist office give a hoot?

No you weren’t being rude. I had a therapist a few years ago who cared a lot what I wore. If I wore a shirt with a cartoon character on it she would say I was being childish. Even though it was in an adult size. If I had dressed nicely that day then the receptionist would gossip to her before my session and as soon as I’d walk in the therapist would say “the receptionist said your dressed nicely today.” One time I wore a skeleton hoodie and the therapist sarcastically said “dressed for Halloween again huh Mountaindewed?”

This is my first time meeting with this therapist so I don’t know what she’s like. I think I’m just going to wear a hoodie and jeans. What I usually wear when I’m working that day.

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

No you weren’t being rude. I had a therapist a few years ago who cared a lot what I wore. If I wore a shirt with a cartoon character on it she would say I was being childish. Even though it was in an adult size. If I had dressed nicely that day then the receptionist would gossip to her before my session and as soon as I’d walk in the therapist would say “the receptionist said your dressed nicely today.” One time I wore a skeleton hoodie and the therapist sarcastically said “dressed for Halloween again huh Mountaindewed?”

This is my first time meeting with this therapist so I don’t know what she’s like. I think I’m just going to wear a hoodie and jeans. What I usually wear when I’m working that day.

It will be okay. Not all comment on clothes. If they make a comment about your clothes you can just tell them to shut their trap. That’s what I would do but that’s just me.

[Salmon77]

Mine never comments on my clothes unless I bring them up for some reason. I generally just wear whatever makes sense for that day (work clothes if it's a work day, casual clothes otherwise). The one thing I think about, I guess, is I try not to look like I'm being sexy on purpose (low neckline or short skirt) because I don't want my T to think I'm being seductive or something.

[SlumberKitty]

I usually am in jeans or khakis and a sweater or a shirt. I sometimes wear sneakers, sometimes I wear loafers. My T's have only ever commented on my shoes, or a scarf or something like that. Once when I was going for an interview after T, my T said that I looked very nice and professional. That was the only time she commented on my outfit out of 10 years of seeing her.

[Xynesthesia2]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

I had a therapist a few years ago who cared a lot what I wore. If I wore a shirt with a cartoon character on it she would say I was being childish. Even though it was in an adult size. If I had dressed nicely that day then the receptionist would gossip to her before my session and as soon as I’d walk in the therapist would say “the receptionist said your dressed nicely today.” One time I wore a skeleton hoodie and the therapist sarcastically said “dressed for Halloween again huh Mountaindewed?”

All this sounds quite immature to me. Was it a young therapist / office staff? I doubt that most Ts / offices would make direct and recurring comments like that. I think many people tend to form judgments based on someone's clothing but rarely voice it critically unless it is in some kind of fashion-related industry or, again, very young populations. I personally would just tell them directly that I am not interested in superficial comments on my style and please keep it to themselves.

[nottrustin]

Both my Ts on occassion have commented on liking something I am wearing. The was is a skirt/blouse outfit that t complimented me on almost everytime I wore it. I wore it to her memorial service.

I know one of the visual indicators therapists/ psychiatrists use to assess how clients are doing is their appearance. That is always in the back of my mind when I am doing poorly.

[SlumberKitty]

Originally Posted by nottrustin

I know one of the visual indicators therapists/ psychiatrists use to assess how clients are doing is their appearance. That is always in the back of my mind when I am doing poorly.

I think of that too. Thanks for bringing it up.

[Mountaindewed]

My old one was in her late 50’s. I don’t want my new therapist thinking I am doing poorly based on my appearance when I dress casually all the time even for work. I hope she’s not like that.

[ArtleyWilkins]

I always just went in whatever I wore to work which varied from jeans to teacher clothes. He never made comment about clothing.

[LonesomeTonight]

My T will comment on what I'm wearing sometimes, especially if it's something new. Generally something like, "I don't think I've seen that shirt before" or "Look at those shoes!" (polka dot tennis shoes, not something sexy). Once he said he liked my sweater. Or last summer, I mostly wore sleeveless things, so if I was wearing something with (short) sleeves, he'd sometimes say, "I almost didn't recognize you, you're wearing sleeves today!" It makes me feel like he's paying attention. (And he's quite fashionable, so I consider it a compliment if he likes/notices something I'm wearing.) Honestly, he seems more likely to notice I'm wearing something new than my husband...(of course, maybe my H doesn't want to encourage my clothes spending...). He's also asked me about the beaded bracelets i often wear, asking if they had significance, and I said I mainly wear them as sort of fidget toys for session.

Though I guess a more sort of negative thing was the first two times I wore distressed jeans (a couple small holes), T was like, "Things so bad you have holes in your jeans?" (joking of course--the one time, though, I said yes, because I was doing pretty poorly). So I often avoided any distressed jeans because I didn't feel like hearing that comment. But then I've worn some again recently, and he hasn't said anything, so maybe he's over it. I also make sure not to wear anything that shows too much cleavage, as I've mentioned ET to him on occasion and don't want to seem like I'm trying to look seductive. (Though of course there have been times I've worn a new top and/or new bra and didn't realize till I was sitting in the car on the way to session that it was more revealing than I'd realized, so then I'd just pay attention to how I sat in session.)

[nottrustin]

Originally Posted by Mountaindewed

My old one was in her late 50’s. I don’t want my new therapist thinking I am doing poorly based on my appearance when I dress casually all the time even for work. I hope she’s not like that.

I my experience, it isnt just about what a person wears it is about the whole picture and seeing patterns. If I who always dress professionally suddenly went in wearing sweats and jeans it wouldn't necessary mean I was doing poorly but I suspect she would dig a little deeper to see how I am really doing.

If a person normally is more relax dressed and that is their norm then I suspect the T wouldnt think twice about it being an indicator.

[SummerTime12]

Oh I definitely do this. I always go pretty casual, whether that be “nice casual” (like jeans and nicer shirt) or lazy casual (leggings and a hoodie maybe). But no matter where I wear, I always put thought into it haha. And for some reason I ALWAYS wear makeup to therapy, even though I often go without at school or other places. I think at this point, I only continue wearing makeup every time because it’s been 2.5 years of him seeing me with makeup. It would feel weird to all of a sudden not wear it I guess.

My t has only commented on what I was wearing maybe 3 times, so I don’t even know if he notices this stuff lol. Once I had come from my internship so I was dressed up and he commented that I had heels on and called them “fancy shoes” lol.

[SalingerEsme]

My T is soo anti bog boots it makes me laugh ( I love them on snowy days). I usually wear dress/skirt to therapy bc my T is super preppy.

[Elio]

I have worn everything from super dressy to little kid pjs. Most the time I wear whatever I've been wearing before seeing her. I walk to her from work or the gym so weather also impacts what I choose to wear. There are times where I feel more slobbish or want to feel more comfortable. Usually those are when I am feeling overly fat. The super dressy and pjs were intentional. I've done the pjs several times when I want to or am feeling little/young. The dress up only once or twice - to show her an outfit I had talked about for a special occasion.

My T rarely comments on my clothing. A few times she's said something looks comfy.