Dressing Professional

[reluctantPhd01]

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I had a question about general standards of dress in psychology departments when you are a PhD student (I'm a male, but girls, feel free to answer).

How do people usually dress as far as teaching, clinical work, lab work, running a lab meeting, just being in the lab, et cetera.

For example, one of the students in a program I RA in (I RA in a very research heavy PhD program) said that one of her classes (where she is a student in that class0 is held in the PSC, so she wears nice clothes to class just because it's actually in the clinic.

Guys---do you wear a suit to see clients? That seems intense. I was thinking more like a nice shirt and pants with a tie.

How about when/if you teach---do you dress a bit nicer to establish boundaries?

 

[Ollie123]

Not sure I've met many doctoral-level providers who wear suits on a daily basis. Heck, our faculty in medical settings don't even wear suits on a regular basis (though I'm in FL - dress code is far more lax in general), including those in administrative positions.

I don't have much variation in my dress...its basically just a matter of tie vs. no tie. If I'm interacting with people outside the program (e.g. students, clients, research participants) I go with the tie. Otherwise no tie. I wore jeans some early on when I had days with nothing but classes, but I don't that's happened since my first year.

Note that my lab is in a medical setting and I got used to dressing up from my last job so not everyone does this. I can't imagine jeans with clients, but in some places it might be fine to run participants from an undergrad subject pool in jeans, though I personally would not (unless protocol called for it for one reason or another). That may also depend on the kind of research you do..."Fill out these forms" is very different from "spit in this cup, come do a blood draw, hand me your pee, and then let me cover you from head to toe in electrodes".

 

[twilson]

I tend to dress up only for teaching and running participants, but not for lab meetings, being in lab or class.Even then its dress pants and a nice shirt, more business casual. I'm not clinical, but I have officemates that are and they dress up for days that they are seeing clients but never for general lab meetings, class, etc.

 

[AcronymAllergy]

I tend to dress up only for teaching and running participants, but not for lab meetings, being in lab or class.Even then its dress pants and a nice shirt, more business casual. I'm not clinical, but I have officemates that are and they dress up for days that they are seeing clients but never for general lab meetings, class, etc.

This is the trend in our (clinical) program as well--back when I was taking classes, I don't recall anyone dressing up for them unless they had something else scheduled later that day. Same goes for lab meetings. I do know that some advisors here require that their students dress up for practicums/staffings, though. And the norm for clients and running research participants is business casual (at least). Suits are generally reserved for thesis/dissertation defenses and general exams.

 

[cara susanna]

I dress business casual when I'll be seeing clients or giving a presentation. The rest of the time it's jeans. 😉 I dressed more formally and will do so again when presenting to my thesis committee. The only time I wore suits was to practicum interviews.

 

[Neuropsych2be]

Other than the day I interviewed I have NEVER worn a suit. At practicum placements its business casual. I usually wear khakis, loafers, a white shirt and tie. However, in my last practicum at a community mental health center they had casual Fridays when I would wear jeans and a polo/golf shirt. However, when working at other practicum placements such as residential center with violent adolescents or with severely and persistently mentally ill schizophrenics and schizoaffective clients I was told to never ever wear a tie. One good pull and its lights out!😱

 

[O Gurl]

... when working at other practicum placements such as residential center with violent adolescents or with severely and persistently mentally ill schizophrenics and schizoaffective clients I was told to never ever wear a tie. One good pull and its lights out!😱

Lol.


I think it varies by setting, but I've found that business casual is usually a safe bet. Outside of interviews, thesis/dissertaion defense, or giving formal presentations, I have not had a reason to wear a suit to my research assistantship, clinical practica, or on internship. Usually, you can tell from how others are dressed... and if you are at the VA you get a nifty (and sometimes silly) dress code at orientation. I will say that I miss 100% research days though... and my research was in a community based substance abuse clinic, so jeans were the norm. Ah, those were the days.