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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think people would have a problem with their therapist having dreadlocks?

197 replies

Buddhagirl · 22/03/2013 23:11

I used to have dreads, I'm now a cognitive behavioural therapist. I want my dreads back but family have said it will have a negative impact on my job. I'm not sure.

How would you feel about seeing a therapist with crazy hair?

Inspired by a recent aibu post :-)

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 22/03/2013 23:22

My CPN is a 'goth' for lack of a better term, she's awesome. She's good at her job, and we have a good professional / client relationship, and that is more important to me than what she looks like.

ModreB · 22/03/2013 23:23

Wouldn't bother me at all. And I've had lots of therapy.

If the therapy is good, who cares about the therapists hairstyle?

MammaTJ · 22/03/2013 23:23

I would quite like a thrapist who was confident enough in themselves to do their own thing (as long as they weren't smelly dreds).

Booyhoo · 22/03/2013 23:25

it wouldn't be an issue for me. unless they were smelly dreads.

Gingerodgers · 22/03/2013 23:27

Depends on whether or not you are private. If its a business, I don't think you should limit your potential client base, by being too alternative.

Booyhoo · 22/03/2013 23:27

xpost mammaTJ Grin

AgentZigzag · 22/03/2013 23:27

Aren't you supposed to try the therapist, or whoever you're seeing, out for size in the first session before committing to see them? (and for them to weigh up whether they're able to help you or not)

If the client wasn't happy and it made them feel uncomfortable, they'd be free to find someone else.

And I'm sure there are loads of unpredictable aspects to a therapist they could take against, you'd be forever second guessing them if you thought about it.

LunaticFringe · 22/03/2013 23:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ratata · 22/03/2013 23:31

Dreads are freakin awesome. I'd feel better with a therapist who had dreads as I would feel that they were more open and on my wavelength. Could be a personal thing. I'm all for being alternative in the workplace. I know a lot of folk aren't but I think it makes the place more fun and interesting :D

WorraLiberty · 22/03/2013 23:32

LunaticFringe I'm laughing at the irony of your name on a thread about 'crazy' hair Grin

I do know a therapist with dreads but since he's a drugs counsellor, it does nothing to bust the stereotype.

However, by all accounts he's brilliant at his job and knowing how caring he is as a person, I can well believe it.

WafflyVersatile · 22/03/2013 23:33

People want to trust and feel comfortable and safe with their therapist. I expect for most they would not make a difference, some would actively like them and some actively dislike them, but that's the same as with any other aspect of a therapist, male female, older, younger, style of dress, accent, pretty much anything.

WorraLiberty · 22/03/2013 23:36

That's very true Waffly

Original poster
Buddhagirl · 22/03/2013 23:38

Nice! Cheers guys. Yeah my family think I should look like I work in a posh corporation as a manager or something. My colleagues are pretty obsessed with looking immaculate in front of patients. One went home to touchup her make up before clinic because it was not covering up her spot enough:-\

OP posts:
OhYouBadBadKitten · 22/03/2013 23:39

I have no idea why it would be a problem. In fact it could make some people more comfy with you.

ComposHat · 22/03/2013 23:39

If anyone kicks up a fuss tell to fuck off and play them this:

Original poster
Buddhagirl · 22/03/2013 23:40

I work for the NHS my patients get very little choice who their therapist is.

OP posts:
cantreachmytoes · 22/03/2013 23:43

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest.

My therapist sometimes wears a very small, but noticeable, religious symbol on a necklace. It's quite pretty, but it does affect how I discuss issues relating to religion (especially hers - I'm certain for other reasons it's not there just for decorative purposes) because she's no longer "neutral". I have nothing against her beliefs, or the fact that she has them, but it does tint things for me if religion comes up.

If the dreads represent a more religious aspect of you - or would be interpreted by clients in such a way (I've no idea how someone would make the distinction!), then it could impact some aspects of how the therapy proceeds. Not sure it would necessarily be major, but might take an edge off the neutrality.

At the end of the day though, good therapy is good therapy and it's that clients care about.

LunaticFringe · 22/03/2013 23:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CouthySaysEatChoccyEggs · 22/03/2013 23:45

I wouldn't care. Hair is for the person whose head it is on...

AgentZigzag · 22/03/2013 23:45

'One went home to touchup her make up before clinic because it was not covering up her spot enough:-\ '

She needs to see a therapist about that.

Grin
VerySmallSqueak · 22/03/2013 23:47

No problems with it here.

samithesausage · 22/03/2013 23:49

You could compromise... Wear dreads and a smartish suit/outfit! (Would look awesome! Lol!) I don't really see any problem with dreads either. I suppose its just another hairstyle. Its the person that counts!

AgentZigzag · 22/03/2013 23:52

Wouldn't that be the equivalent of a suited/booted bloke with straggly long hair and an earring sami?

WorraLiberty · 22/03/2013 23:55

Wouldn't that be the equivalent of a suited/booted bloke with straggly long hair and an earring sami?

That's my DS2's Deputy Head Grin

His idea of being conservative is to tie it back so it looks as though he has a little grey rat sitting on his shoulders...

LadyBeagleEyes · 22/03/2013 23:56

Wouldn't bother me but I have this odd sort of prejudice that dreads only look good on black/mixed race people.
Though TBF I'd never pay for a therapist either.