Clinical posture?

[futureapppsy2]

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I was watching TV the other night, and it occurred to me almost every psychologist I've seen on TV (reality TV, fiction, documentary, etc) crosses his or her legs when interviewing a client. Is there any clinical reason for this with regards to body language and the like, or is it just a strange coincidence?

Just curious...

 

[erg923]

yea...its the way i sit in a chair! I hate the focus some psychobabbling supervisors put into this. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Be warm and inviting. Dont be a robot, but don't fidget too much either. Done.

 

[teo3099]

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[deleted176373]

yea...its the way i sit in a chair! I hate the focus some psychobabbling supervisors put into this. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. Be warm and inviting. Dont be a robot, but don't fidget too much either. Done.

Actually I found myself rather comfortably flopped sideways across a chair the other day with a client. It made the room far less formal and relaxed... which let the client relax and removed the air of authority that my rank provides (which is not all that high, but high enough to get in the way sometimes.) I think one of my bigger challenges will be in the future when I have much more rank than I do now and I have to make low ranking clients feel at ease.

Most of the time though, yes, traditional therapist pose... LOL, strike a pose... damn I look like a therapist again! 😉

Mark

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

I sit how I feel like sitting. I wouldn't pull an Al Bundy....but rigidity and formality don't seem to help with the therapeutic relationship.

 

[ClinPsycMasters]

For some reason I'm reminded of a Frasier episode, the one where he opened a private practice and started each session with the same cliché opening: "Welcome. Whether our journey lasts for several years or just for a day, I want you to know how excited I am to take this first step with you." In fact, just don't do things Frasier did and you'll be fine, and that includes making sure that the incoming phone messages are not audible as they are being recorded on your answering machine...and don't sit with your pants unbuttoned.