What’s your reputation?

August 20th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

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Do you have a “reputation?”

Recently a therapist stated that she was on a teleseminar with me due to my “reputation.”

While initially I was flattered, I parachuted back to high school and my mom saying “Casey, you do not want to be one of those girls with a reputation.”

I know what my mom meant but now I do want a reputation! I am on a mission and I want the world to know it!

What kind of reputation do you have? Are you prompt? Do people speak of your sincerity, your humor, your way with people?

Building your reputation is important.

And it got me to thinking … who is building the reputation for our profession?

Of course we have wonderful professional associations who are doing great work lobbying for us. But do we need more?

What do you want from your associations? How are they helping you build your reputation in the general population? What do you wish they did more (or less) of?

Please share your comments below. Take care!

There Are 5 Responses So Far. »

1. 

   Comment by lisa quinn on 20 August 2008:

   Casey: I’m so glad you asked this question. I’m on a mission too! A mission to let the world know that the key part of the phrase “mental health” is the word “health,” and not the word that immediately jumps into most people’s mind (mental illness). I work with healthy people to help them get healthier! I’m so sick of the stigma associated with the wonderful work we do as therapists and with the courageous, bright and insightful people who come into my office and make my day at work a joy. Yes, I see people who are wounded (aren’t we all?!), but I appreciate the strength, courage and determination it takes to break free of long-established patterns that get in our way. I even have a page on my website (lisaquinncounseling.com) devoted to therapy myth busting. I had one client sign up with me because of that page, in particular, because it spoke to her husband’s hesitation about therapy. Thank you for focusing on this–and I never respond to these kinds of requests, so I know I’m passionate about it!!!!

   Lisa Quinn
2. 

   Comment by Susanne Stolcke on 20 August 2008:

   I just had a long conversation about this topic with a colleague: I had seen a commercial on tv for an antidepressant. The commercial had beautiful music, scenes of sad people whom you felt immediately empathy for and then this hope transpired because of the medication. Everything was very gentle and lovely and touching. And I immediately thought: why can’t psychotherapy ever be advertised like that?
   Many individual therapists (me included) advertise for themselves, of course, but we will never get a ‘bigger picture’ across without some help. I wished our umbrella organisation would do more for us in that regard: going out and educating the public/advertising for us on a larger scale. I think that would improve our ‘repuation’ immensely and would help clients seek help through psychotherapy much quicker.

   Susanne Stolcke
3. 

   Comment by dwight bain on 20 August 2008:

   Your reputation is your brand.
   I agree with Casey, you want to have a reputation, because your reputation is your ‘brand’. Basically it’s how people view you in the marketplace.

   If you are a very shy person with introverted traits, no problem- just build your brand using the type of skills that work for quiet people. Blogging, books and working behind the scenes.

   If you are a louder or more extroverted personality then focus more on public speaking or being on media talk shows in your area of expertise.

   Either way- continually build your reputation in the community as an expert at what you do based on the strength of your personality. It can be done well, if you wisely work from your strength zone. -db
4. 

   Comment by Victoria Van Zandt on 20 August 2008:

   Hi Casey - I think our profession is no different than many other professions: you have the people that love and respect what they do and give our profession a good name, and you have others who are burned out and should stick to their hobbies. I’m still building my reputation, and I try to emphasize that therapy is about self-awareness and learning coping skills rather than fixing something that is broken. There is still a belief out there that people only seek out therapy if they’re weak or have a severe mental diagnosis. I live in Los Angeles, where seeing a therapist is the norm. So how do we change the overall image of the therapeutic profession - by educating the public. By continuing to talk about it and rid the stigma our society places on mental health issues. By letting the public know they don’t have to travel down life’s dark roads alone and that care of the soul and emotional state is as important as our physical well being. A great topic to continue to explore and discuss.
   Thank you,
   Victoria Van Zandt
5. 

   Comment by Sherron Lewis on 25 August 2008:

   Reputation: This is a passionate word for me as well. One thing I have noticed at seminars and workshops are the “professional therapists” who need desperately to be in their own therapy. They display neediness, clinging behavior, and narcissism. A reputation as a therapist must include that one is willing to grow every single day in their own personal life before being allowed to assist others in their process. It so much reminds me of individuals who become parents before they are ready. Much like this, therapists are thrown into this role without having done their own necessary work. For parents there are excuses, such as being too young, however for master’s level and above individuals there are no excuses. Therefore clients are often wounded further by these therapists who use their clients to heal themselves. Somehow it gives them a sense of entitlement. I remember reading in Grad. school, an excerpt by Corey that emphasized the humility and honor of one being allowed to aide in another’s psyche. What trust our client’s place in our hands. What an honor that we would be allowed to participate in this process. I wish that the criteria for personal therapy was as severe as some of the other ethical requirements. Hence, a reputation in my estimation would include the therapist must continually be in her/his own personal therapy. At least on a monthly appointment basis. I believe this would help the overall reputation of the collective group as well. In conclusion a reputation as a therapist in the healing profession must include one being humble.

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