To think some people feel awkward around me?

[MumQuack]

As well as being a mum, I'm a clinical psychologist working with people with mental health problems. When I'm in social situations I get the feeling some people feel awkward around me, as if I'm analysing them, or reading their mind. When I tell people what i do they often say 'oooo I hope you're not reading my mind!' I hate it when people say it because it makes the interaction awkward from the outset......all I want is for people to feel normal around me, that I'm normal and not that I'm analysing them! I honestly feel that my job has stopped some people feeling they can get close to me. Maybe I should just play my work down or leave out the word psychologist!! Please be honest, would you feel awkward around me if you just met me and found out my job?....

I don't tell people my job for that very reason. People automatically seem to think I'm judging them for some reason (I'm not!). I do vague "I work for the Health Service" etc type introduction until people know me better.

My jobs have been exclusively in politics and/or policing. People tend to either
a) tell me I'm wrong, and go on at great length as to why 30 years of reading the Express means they're better informed
b) scuttle away in horror.

I'm a joy at parties I tell you, a joy.

Choose a vague description OP, and only fess up when you know people.

OP said: "I get the feeling some people feel awkward around me, as if I'm analysing them, or reading their mind"

Psychologists generally look at human behaviour across the board e.g. within a given context or a group.

Psychiatrist is the study and treatment of mental illness.

Psychotherapists is a type of therapy to treat mental disorders.

So, as a psychologist there's no reason for people to think you're "reading their mind" or "analysing them".

Hmm, it would depend if you give off an air of superiority A friend of mine is an ed psych - the time she offered to give me a few pointers following a rather fraught exchange between toddler DS and me, completely unprompted I might add, didn't go down that well... I'm a counsellor - all people usually say (if anything at all) is that they can see why I'm in that line of work. I don't imagine people feel awkward around you - think you're probably reading too much into it.

I'm a play therapist. Sometimes if people knowna bit about it then they think I am analysing their drawings/how they play with their child if we are at play group.

Otherwise they think a play therapist is play activities planner or something.

Not sure which frustrates me more...!

I actually see a psychologist for mh issues. It's funny, but even though she is analysing me, I don't get the feeling that she is

So, no. I wouldn't feel awkward around you... and you shouldn't downplay your occupation. It is these other people who have issues, not you.

I'm a Psychiatrist. It is an absolute conversation stopper. I hate being asked by people I meet when I'm off work, doing parenting stuff etc. Even if the first response is, "how interesting..." within seconds of saying that there's awkwardness.

I usually just say I work in Mental Health. Seems to have less of an impact in conversation and normality continues until they maybe ask if I'm a nurse or a social worker and start trying to identify a more specific job...

Asper I've been working as a nanny while doing my post grad part time in play therapy and work for a psychiatrist. She often just says Dr.

Vestal I doubt my friends would say in the worlds best listener or wisest counsel. I just don't switch in to work mode outside of work- part from anything else it would be utterly exhausting.
OP discuss this at supervision- it's not an uncommon problem and being more aware of your boundaries would help.

Apart from other things i'm a trained bra fitter. Whenever i mention this to a new acquaintance they nearly always self consciously laugh and say something about their boobs, or glance down at them. Have to say it doesn't get in the way of friendship though :)

Have you tried making light of it when first mentioning your job OP? As in a jokey - 'don't worry, i don't analyse when i'm off work', or something. Bring it in the open? Give the person a chance to air the fact they might be finding it awkward.

Skimmed thread, but has anyone mentioned Faulty Towers yet? The Psychiatrist. Hilarious

No I wouldn't feel at all uncomfortable around you. My late mum was a psychotherapist. While she was intelligent, brilliant and incisive, she was also just as totally fucking nuts and human as everybody else. She had two 'brains', private and professional. While she was exceptionally highly regarded and a lovely mum, my secrets were always safe cos she couldn't 'read me' for shit

I really like all the responses....thanks everyone!

Honestly, i would feel awkward. But, i am autistic and would be very aware that you can 'see' that even though i think i can keep it hidden. Because thats exactly what it says in my clinical psyc's paperwork!!

Oops, missed the off that

My closest friend is a psychologist. If I'm having a shit time eg when my mum was dying she did sometimes slip into psychologist mode to help me (not that either of us mentioned if) and it was great. But in general life she's just a lovely person. I wouldn't feel paranoid meeting other psychologists.

My best friends are a MH occupational therapist and an EP. Very occasionally we'll switch into work mode when discussing issues, never people, but usually we just chatter inanely!

Never thought I'd get all these responses....helpful and reassuring

I'm a Clinical Psychologist and I work in AMH too and I find the opposite tbh. People interested in my job and some overshare.

On the whole, Clinical Psychologists are a rather odd bunch. Maybe you are reflecting too much OP? Have you asked anyone or are you assuming this to be the issue?

I met a mental health nurse and was seriously unimpressed by her stories about her experiences on the ward - she dehumanised the patients. This was a problem for me because my mum was on a mental health ward when I was a kid. I also knew a member of the group in this conversation had been suicidal and had stayed on a mental health ward too. And I have battled depression for a long time.

How I'd react would depend on how they behaved - I probably would hang back from disclosing personal info on mental health initially. I did feel quite inhabited talking to a GP because she did ask more questions than other people would about a health condition.

Id love a friend in that profession, I have a real interest in human behaviour and I'm full of mental health issues too.

Having said that, sometime being around "professionals" makes me feel a bit insecure because I never made a success of my life and I feel quite embarrassed about that.

It depends on what type of psychologist. For example I think Freud was a misogynist who has a wife spot his script from early on. Do you like to keep people going over painful situations in work? If so then I wouldn't touch you with a bargepole.

Rather depends how you are toward other people, if you're someone who wants to push your knowledge in all situations then I think it would make most people uncomfortable around you.

If you are friendly, witty and interesting to chat to then why would anyone feel awkward around you.

I certainly wouldn't start telling you all about my inner feelings in the hope you'd be able to sort my life out for me, any more than I'd ask an accountant I'd just met at a party to do my tax returns over the canapes.