Posted by gardenergirl on June 2, 2004, at 9:33:56
In reply to Re: Comments on Appearance in Therapy, posted by lucy stone on June 1, 2004, at 22:17:42
I forgot about a couple of appearance-related interpretations my T made that made me laugh. These are the only times he has even hinted at something about my appearance. I think I have posted this somewhere in the past, so if you have heard it before, sorry.
First, one day I did not have to go to work, so I went in jeans and a more casual hair and makeup. I never get to wear jeans, it seems, so I take advantage every chance I get. He said, "it seems like you are loosening up." Lord. I suppose I could have felt like I had to dress professionally for my appt., but why would I do that?
Second, one day I was wearing boots with a long, full skirt. He said, "When you are going to wade through the muck (meaning deal with difficulty and stressful stuff), you have to protect yourself (i.e. put your Wellie's on?)".
Fashion, dude! Fashion!Now that I think about it, when I brought him a picture that I call my inner geek (three years old, on Thanksgiving day, with awful seventies clothes, bad haircut from Mom, cat-eye glass, grinning like a goon, you get the picture), he commented on "what brilliant smile" I had. Um, yeah, brilliant. Although the smile is about the only thing you can pick out to compliment in that picture unless you were a fan of seventies fashion. Or just think the kid is so weird looking that she's cute. (That's what I think. I really like my inner geek.)
I have complimented my clients at times, on a new haircut or a color. I tend to do it more automatically versus think much about it (I'll have to think about that....). But I don't think I have ever complimented my male clients on appearance. Especially the last one, who was a very good-looking 19 year old, charismatic boy. That would not have been therapeutic for him. And it would have felt really odd to me, versus easy like with the female clients.
Interesting thread.
gg
poster:gardenergirl
thread:352524
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20040522/msgs/352974.html