Is this suit too much for a 24-year-old psychotherapist?

[lamecobra]

Hi all,

Quick question to the gents here with a better sense of formality and what's appropriate.

Do you think the suit below is too much for a 24-year-old psychotherapist? I find it beautiful and certainly think I could rock it to the opera and such. I have a large, rather athletic build and am confident in my work, but I am somewhat doubtful about the message the pinstripes might send. On the one hand, the stripes are somewhat toned down and the suit is supposed to be a grey-brown (not sure what that means, looks charcoal to me from the photos). On the other hand, a pinstripe double-breaster might communicate gangster/banker and perhaps be too authoritative for a young psychotherapist? Would be curious to hear what you guys think...

Thank you all in advance!

 

[LeeR]

Is this for on the job or extracurricular activities?

 

[lamecobra]

Is this for on the job or extracurricular activities?

Both 😄 but what's important is that I can wear it for work. However, I'm starting to think now that if I'm so uncertain about whether I should be wearing this, I probably shouldn't. I find it pretty and elegant, but I'm also worried about the message it sends. The irony of me thrifting a suit which is supposed to project confidence and luxury when I can't actually afford to buy it full price is not lost on me either.

Would be curious to hear what you think. Am I overthinking it or should I just let it go?

 

[KOz]

I think it rather depends on context. For example, might not put people at ease when dealing with clients.

 

[LeeR]

Just get the best good fit blue blazer you can afford. That will be appropriate in many circumstances. And if you want to up the style get a double breasted.

 

[TheIronDandy]

Hi all,

Quick question to the gents here with a better sense of formality and what's appropriate.

Do you think the suit below is too much for a 24-year-old psychotherapist? I find it beautiful and certainly think I could rock it to the opera and such. I have a large, rather athletic build and am confident in my work, but I am somewhat doubtful about the message the pinstripes might send. On the one hand, the stripes are somewhat toned down and the suit is supposed to be a grey-brown (not sure what that means, looks charcoal to me from the photos). On the other hand, a pinstripe double-breaster might communicate gangster/banker and perhaps be too authoritative for a young psychotherapist? Would be curious to hear what you guys think...

Thank you all in advance!

It depends.

If you're young, fit, got an advanced degree and wearing a power suit, that projects a certain image. That image can help or hinder you.

If you're seeing a client (or should it be patient?) who is suffering from feelings of inadequacy, or who is struggling with depression or drug addiction, giving the impression of successful and powerful probably isn't going to help you build a connection to them. On the other hand, if you're helping a JP Morgan partner deal with stress, being seen as "one of them" (or at least sharing some common traits) might make it easier for them to trust you.

Over all, I think your gut might be telling you to hold off on this unless you have finance bros lining up at your practice. The DB striped suit is a very specific look - probably not the foundation of a wardrobe for someone starting to dress better.

 

[breakaway01]

It's an interesting question. I'm sure you also know a lot of this but here goes. How physicians dress in North America (I'm guessing that's where you live/practice) varies by specialty, region, and by institution. You'll see many more physicians wearing suits at the Mayo Clinic and MGH than you will at UCSF. Pediatricians tend not to dress too formally and typically avoid wearing white coats to try to reduce anxiety among the kids.

I see adults and I usually wear a sportcoat and tie when I see patients in clinic. I have chosen to do this for two reasons - one is that there is some evidence that patients perceive that physicians who dress more formally have more expertise. The other is that I deliberately want to communicate nonverbally that I am their physician, not their friend. I may need to talk about challenging subjects and deliver bad news. But it may also depend on your patient population - I suspect that younger patients may not have the same associations as older patients when it comes to how you dress.

I also don't have an intimate understanding of the culture of psychotherapy. However, I found this dissertation that you might find interesting, particularly the literature review:

https://esource.dbs.ie/server/api/core/bitstreams/17e9cfd8-c891-48d3-873f-7a15544b3b43/content

 

[DapperPhilly]

Hi all,

Quick question to the gents here with a better sense of formality and what's appropriate.

Do you think the suit below is too much for a 24-year-old psychotherapist? I find it beautiful and certainly think I could rock it to the opera and such. I have a large, rather athletic build and am confident in my work, but I am somewhat doubtful about the message the pinstripes might send. On the one hand, the stripes are somewhat toned down and the suit is supposed to be a grey-brown (not sure what that means, looks charcoal to me from the photos). On the other hand, a pinstripe double-breaster might communicate gangster/banker and perhaps be too authoritative for a young psychotherapist? Would be curious to hear what you guys think...

Thank you all in advance!

I suggest you ask your psychotherapist.

 

[sethkatzman@comcast.]

Both 😄 but what's important is that I can wear it for work. However, I'm starting to think now that if I'm so uncertain about whether I should be wearing this, I probably shouldn't. I find it pretty and elegant, but I'm also worried about the message it sends. The irony of me thrifting a suit which is supposed to project confidence and luxury when I can't actually afford to buy it full price is not lost on me either.

Would be curious to hear what you think. Am I overthinking it or should I just let it go?

If you were my therapist I would wonder if your degree was an MBA. A suit like that—any suit, perhaps—does not inspire trust in a vulnerable client. It’s something a lawyer or stockbroker would wear.