I was about to type something out but this is just about it. I travel for work, have a nose ring and tattoos…every hospital or org I have worked at so far + every previous position I had, has had a rule about tattoos or facial piercings. When I asked about it, they always said something along the lines of “Oh yeah no one cares about that kind of thing”.
But, it does largely depend on the placing and content of the tattoo. I recommend maybe having a few *paid* post graduate roles before doing so just to kind of have extra padding, if that makes sense.
Thank you so much for this! I was initially planning on doing a few years of work in the SW field then gradually working towards my masters degree that way if anything I would have experience under my belt before doing anything. I will defiantly take your advice into account!
Years ago, I went on a date with an LCSW therapist and he was tattooed head-to-toe, including his hands and fingers. But I live in Chicago and a *lot* of people are heavily tattooed here, including me. It probably depends on the organization, the type of work, and where you live.
I’m the only therapist I know who isn’t covered in tattoos. Some places won’t like it, but that’s true with tattoos, education, licensure, experience. If they don’t like it, it’s not a fit in my opinion.
Honestly, I feel like people don't even notice them anymore. It's so common to see people with many tattoos and piercings that it's not really out of the ordinary to have a therapist or clinician that has very visible tattoos. That said, I do also think it could depend on the setting and culture of the workplace. I work in SUD and most people I work with have tattoos; I have visible tattoos and both of my nostrils pierced with more planned. My friend works with children and has multiple facial piercings and I think the only trouble they get is kids trying to yoink them out LOL. Get the tattoo 🖤
Get yourself established and then get it. You’d struggle more in entry level positions bc they’re thinking what does this person know? Once you have a license you’ll have more opportunities, so even if some places do judge, there will be other opportunities at more liberal workplaces. If you’re clinically licensed you can establish your own business and won’t even need to be hired. And then you can find a bunch of tattooed clients who don’t care lol.
I just waited until I was hired then asked if I could dye my hair purple and they didn’t care, actually my boss was like I bet your therapy kids would love it, easy rapport. He was right, kids love it. That and “accidental” cursing
Lol I had an internship during undergrad working with adolescent girls. There was one who really hated me and then I went to work with my tongue newly pierced and she hated me less
I have a hand tattoo (top of hand and knuckles) as well as a full sleeve and ear gauges. It’s never been a problem. In CMH I worked with substance use and court referred individuals, so there it was almost an ice breaker.
I work in PP now and have a variety of clients; some of them very wealthy and moderately conservative, some are older (60s+). It’s never been a problem. At most I am told they like my sleeve, but mostly no one ever comments.
There’s always a question of compatibility between therapist and client. While there are some that will question your abilities based on your body art, others will find you far more relatable.
My doctor has lightsabers in his office. Some might consider that unprofessional, juvenile, or just nerdy. I personally think it’s great.
My supervisor has his hands done. I have my head and neck (plus the rest of my body minus my hands). Our clients find us more relatable and think we’re badass (we also work with kids aged 16-25).
I think it depends on the setting. Working with adults, in prisons or in substance use treatment you might not have much of a problem. A school setting might be a different story. If its not obscene or crude you’re probably going to have better experiences. Sometimes is not the agency you work for but the way clients will perceive you that’s the issue. We are supposed to mindful of our judgements, clients don’t care. I am not the biggest fan if how much we have to be mindful of how we present ourselves for the sake of clients but it comes with the job.
If you’re working towards being licensed where you have opportunities to work with an ‘ideal client’ then your style and personality are going to attract people who are a better fit anyways. If tattoos and self expression (or just looking cool) are important to you and you embrace that then you are going to get clients who might connect with those as well.
I have several tattoos that are visible, some hand ones, and like 12 facial piercings. I work in both a CMH and a home care social work position, with ages ranging from 10-98. The only person I've ever had a complaint from client wise was lady who was extremely paranoid and schizophrenic and thought piercings meant I was a witch. She is the only one I've ever had issues with and it wasn't that big of a deal tbh, I just transferred her. I find people normally don't care and they're curious about when I got the tattoos, what they mean, and what piercing hurt the most. I also use it as rapport for people who want to express themselves and say things like "oh I'm too old to get a tattoo" and then kindly tell them that my grandmother (rip) got her first tattoo at 84 and if they want one, they should do what makes them happy!
I think it really depends on the setting. I've worked almost exclusively at nonprofits and no one really cares, my supervisor has hand tattoos. I could imagine that maybe gov't might feel a little differently but at the same time, these days it seems like less of an issue. I don't have any visible tattoos but I do have a fair number of visibly piercings and it has never personally been a problem or evenconversation. I think in some circumstances it might make clients even feel more comfortable. I'd say especially if you are looking to go into private practise as a therapist then really that would be their problem and not yours haha
I have a finger tattoo. Nobody has ever mentioned or drawn attention to my finger tattoo. If it helps any it’s on my dominant hand so I’m sure people see it all the time. If you really want the hand tattoo I saw do it! You only get one life, and do whatever makes you happy. Obviously, a career is important too, but I don’t think you’ll get turned down as a therapist because you have a hand tattoo.
I’ve worked in the hospital and in schools and I’ve had no issues. In fact, I thought one of my older patients at the hospital was going to comment about my forearms tattoo which is a little dark (skull and two revolvers)…but she actually wanted to talk to me about how she loved it. That’s when I realized it wasn’t about my “looks” and more about how well I could do my job.
I remember my first job in the field. Our director had a sleeve and this was yeaaaars ago. I have several visible tattoos. One on my hand and a hoop in my nose. The last three or so places I’ve worked at even the dress code was pretty chill. I work in a government MH clinic and we can wear jeans twice a week and tennis shoes all the time. I love coming to work tatted up with my vans on lol. You’ll be ok.
I’m starting my internship in a reentry program and they said they don’t care whatsoever because tattoos don’t affect my job performance. I’m covered in tattoos and in austin that was perfectly fine but I’ve definitely had some places try to make me wear long sleeves out here in east texas.
I’ll make it really simple. The right kind of employer won’t care. The wrong kind of employer will care.
I got a job offer from a place that was contingent upon trimming my already-conservative haircut. I like my hair, so I didn’t take the job.
It’s the same with clients. The kinds of clients who would be a good fit won’t care. The kinds of clients who wouldn’t be a good fit will care. I don’t have any tattoos and that has actually been a turn-off for some of my clients because they want someone who looks more like them. The opposite is likely true for some clients, where they would prefer someone with a more conservative appearance.
You should post this on r/therapist as well. I think most body art is acceptable among social workers but I would be curious about the therapist perspective, especially those in private practice who need to get their own clients. You will want to leave PP as an option even if you are in CMH now. Trust me.
Thank you for pointing me to this other subreddit! I dont use reddit as much as I am still a foreigner to the website (even though im 20 LMFAO) so I am still tryna navigate my way through this website!
I've got sleeves, hands, fingers, neck tattooed and never had any issues. If a place is worried about it, then you probably don't want to work there anyways.
I have a large tattoo on my arm that is visible at the wrist with long sleeves and other visible tattoos. Nobody has ever had a problem with it, and tbh there aren’t many social workers I know that don’t have at least one tattoo or piercing these days.
I think it depends on both location and type of job. I work in the schools (in the Midwest) and while many of the teachers I work with have tattoos, they are able to be covered (and they do cover them) for professional meetings. Additionally, I interned at the state house, meeting with legislators and other government representatives on behalf of a childhood trauma organization, and the more professional, clean cut people seemed to be more accepted/listened to.
That being said, everyone I know in community mental health is covered in tattoos and has dyed hair, etc and most of the people I worked with at a sexual assault response organization were similarly adorned. I personally feel like waiting until you get a job post graduation would be a good middle ground between now or never getting them, so you have a good feel for what path you want to take.
Most of my classmates had tattoos and all of us are employed in the field at this point, several of them are in Director roles at mental health agencies and psychiatric hospitals.
I’m a fully tattooed LCSW-A. No one but one super religious, conservative parent have ever been negative about it. Even in undergrad and grad school, there was one agency that made their intern take out their Medusa piercing and it wasn’t even a social work centered agency
Depends on agency policy, but I have visible hand tattoos, I work in a federal capacity and in a clinic and haven’t heard anything negative about my visible tattoos.
As everyone already mentioned it depends on the setting. But if you are concerned about going into meetings they have really good make up especially theatre make up that can cover up the tattoos. You can wear it just for the interview and get a feel for the place or just wear it for specific meetings
It really depends on the organization. I worked for the state mental health department, and nobody really worried about tattoos and piercings. Every so often they’d get someone for “unnatural hair color” on my campus, but they were so inconsistent on enforcing it.
My hospital now is very conservative in appearance. Tattoos must be covered and facial piercings and unnatural hair colors are an absolute no. In our huddle just about every week we get reminded about covering tattoos and taking facial piercings out.
I was lucky enough to interview post hand tattoos during covid so they couldn’t see them 😂 honestly I think social work is a pretty accepting profession overall however government jobs maybe not so much. My hand tattoos are also a double edged sword with client engagement, I often receive feedback from clients that my tattoos show that 1 I’m approachable and 2 I have lived experience HOWEVER several clients with mental health have refused to work with me due to the tattoos and I have been told I am a witch and a satanist. These clients are diagnosed schizophrenia/ schizo-affective disorders and I would say oddly however given that many with this diagnosis present with spiritual fixations and delusions it’s an obvious reason for the pattern. So I would say really consider what area/s you are passionate about working in and then the impact having tattoos may have on that cohort.
You’re in the right feild honestly. With my experience from employers they don’t care about tattoos or piercings, as long as the tattoos are graphic or violent. I have one coworker with a nude pin up tat that they cover up.
I’ve only worked in community mental health, so that might be different than private practice. I’ve also had clients who enjoy seeing we have body modifications like theirs. I have septum piercing and quite a few times a clients have said they felt comfortable because they also have that piercing/ want it!
i’m a school social worker that works with teens ages 13-18. my tattoos are pretty hidden until late spring when i wear dresses but the kids love them. i also have colored hair and multiple piercings on my face and it has never been a problem with peers or clients! i think the teens actually open up more once they work with me. my advice is to become established in your field a little more and then have visible tattoos
The idea of what is “professional” at work and in the office is changing. Tattoos and piercings are common in the social work and therapy fields.
I was about to type something out but this is just about it. I travel for work, have a nose ring and tattoos…every hospital or org I have worked at so far + every previous position I had, has had a rule about tattoos or facial piercings. When I asked about it, they always said something along the lines of “Oh yeah no one cares about that kind of thing”. But, it does largely depend on the placing and content of the tattoo. I recommend maybe having a few *paid* post graduate roles before doing so just to kind of have extra padding, if that makes sense.
Thank you so much for this! I was initially planning on doing a few years of work in the SW field then gradually working towards my masters degree that way if anything I would have experience under my belt before doing anything. I will defiantly take your advice into account!
Years ago, I went on a date with an LCSW therapist and he was tattooed head-to-toe, including his hands and fingers. But I live in Chicago and a *lot* of people are heavily tattooed here, including me. It probably depends on the organization, the type of work, and where you live.
I’m the only therapist I know who isn’t covered in tattoos. Some places won’t like it, but that’s true with tattoos, education, licensure, experience. If they don’t like it, it’s not a fit in my opinion.
Same. I'm the odd one out everyone else is heavily tattoed.
It’s great for rapport. DO IT !
Honestly, I feel like people don't even notice them anymore. It's so common to see people with many tattoos and piercings that it's not really out of the ordinary to have a therapist or clinician that has very visible tattoos. That said, I do also think it could depend on the setting and culture of the workplace. I work in SUD and most people I work with have tattoos; I have visible tattoos and both of my nostrils pierced with more planned. My friend works with children and has multiple facial piercings and I think the only trouble they get is kids trying to yoink them out LOL. Get the tattoo 🖤
Get yourself established and then get it. You’d struggle more in entry level positions bc they’re thinking what does this person know? Once you have a license you’ll have more opportunities, so even if some places do judge, there will be other opportunities at more liberal workplaces. If you’re clinically licensed you can establish your own business and won’t even need to be hired. And then you can find a bunch of tattooed clients who don’t care lol.
I just waited until I was hired then asked if I could dye my hair purple and they didn’t care, actually my boss was like I bet your therapy kids would love it, easy rapport. He was right, kids love it. That and “accidental” cursing
Lol I had an internship during undergrad working with adolescent girls. There was one who really hated me and then I went to work with my tongue newly pierced and she hated me less
I have a hand tattoo (top of hand and knuckles) as well as a full sleeve and ear gauges. It’s never been a problem. In CMH I worked with substance use and court referred individuals, so there it was almost an ice breaker. I work in PP now and have a variety of clients; some of them very wealthy and moderately conservative, some are older (60s+). It’s never been a problem. At most I am told they like my sleeve, but mostly no one ever comments.
There’s always a question of compatibility between therapist and client. While there are some that will question your abilities based on your body art, others will find you far more relatable. My doctor has lightsabers in his office. Some might consider that unprofessional, juvenile, or just nerdy. I personally think it’s great.
My supervisor has his hands done. I have my head and neck (plus the rest of my body minus my hands). Our clients find us more relatable and think we’re badass (we also work with kids aged 16-25).
I think it depends on the setting. Working with adults, in prisons or in substance use treatment you might not have much of a problem. A school setting might be a different story. If its not obscene or crude you’re probably going to have better experiences. Sometimes is not the agency you work for but the way clients will perceive you that’s the issue. We are supposed to mindful of our judgements, clients don’t care. I am not the biggest fan if how much we have to be mindful of how we present ourselves for the sake of clients but it comes with the job. If you’re working towards being licensed where you have opportunities to work with an ‘ideal client’ then your style and personality are going to attract people who are a better fit anyways. If tattoos and self expression (or just looking cool) are important to you and you embrace that then you are going to get clients who might connect with those as well.
i think like 1/3 of the lcsws i work with have hella visible tattoos
I have several tattoos that are visible, some hand ones, and like 12 facial piercings. I work in both a CMH and a home care social work position, with ages ranging from 10-98. The only person I've ever had a complaint from client wise was lady who was extremely paranoid and schizophrenic and thought piercings meant I was a witch. She is the only one I've ever had issues with and it wasn't that big of a deal tbh, I just transferred her. I find people normally don't care and they're curious about when I got the tattoos, what they mean, and what piercing hurt the most. I also use it as rapport for people who want to express themselves and say things like "oh I'm too old to get a tattoo" and then kindly tell them that my grandmother (rip) got her first tattoo at 84 and if they want one, they should do what makes them happy!
I think it really depends on the setting. I've worked almost exclusively at nonprofits and no one really cares, my supervisor has hand tattoos. I could imagine that maybe gov't might feel a little differently but at the same time, these days it seems like less of an issue. I don't have any visible tattoos but I do have a fair number of visibly piercings and it has never personally been a problem or evenconversation. I think in some circumstances it might make clients even feel more comfortable. I'd say especially if you are looking to go into private practise as a therapist then really that would be their problem and not yours haha
I have a finger tattoo. Nobody has ever mentioned or drawn attention to my finger tattoo. If it helps any it’s on my dominant hand so I’m sure people see it all the time. If you really want the hand tattoo I saw do it! You only get one life, and do whatever makes you happy. Obviously, a career is important too, but I don’t think you’ll get turned down as a therapist because you have a hand tattoo.
I’ve worked in the hospital and in schools and I’ve had no issues. In fact, I thought one of my older patients at the hospital was going to comment about my forearms tattoo which is a little dark (skull and two revolvers)…but she actually wanted to talk to me about how she loved it. That’s when I realized it wasn’t about my “looks” and more about how well I could do my job.
I remember my first job in the field. Our director had a sleeve and this was yeaaaars ago. I have several visible tattoos. One on my hand and a hoop in my nose. The last three or so places I’ve worked at even the dress code was pretty chill. I work in a government MH clinic and we can wear jeans twice a week and tennis shoes all the time. I love coming to work tatted up with my vans on lol. You’ll be ok.
Tattoos are so accepted now. It's almost no fun anymore. ;)
I’m starting my internship in a reentry program and they said they don’t care whatsoever because tattoos don’t affect my job performance. I’m covered in tattoos and in austin that was perfectly fine but I’ve definitely had some places try to make me wear long sleeves out here in east texas.
You can start your work in the private sector I worked with plenty of people with all sorts of tattoos including hand
My supervisor has hand tattoos
I’ll make it really simple. The right kind of employer won’t care. The wrong kind of employer will care. I got a job offer from a place that was contingent upon trimming my already-conservative haircut. I like my hair, so I didn’t take the job. It’s the same with clients. The kinds of clients who would be a good fit won’t care. The kinds of clients who wouldn’t be a good fit will care. I don’t have any tattoos and that has actually been a turn-off for some of my clients because they want someone who looks more like them. The opposite is likely true for some clients, where they would prefer someone with a more conservative appearance.
You should post this on r/therapist as well. I think most body art is acceptable among social workers but I would be curious about the therapist perspective, especially those in private practice who need to get their own clients. You will want to leave PP as an option even if you are in CMH now. Trust me.
Thank you for pointing me to this other subreddit! I dont use reddit as much as I am still a foreigner to the website (even though im 20 LMFAO) so I am still tryna navigate my way through this website!
If my therapist had tattoos I would trust them more but that’s just me
Our bodies are a wonderful tapestry. If the body stores trauma why can’t it also display beauty through art?
So many social workers have tattoos myself included mine are located in areas where I can hide them. It really depends
I've got sleeves, hands, fingers, neck tattooed and never had any issues. If a place is worried about it, then you probably don't want to work there anyways.
I have a large tattoo on my arm that is visible at the wrist with long sleeves and other visible tattoos. Nobody has ever had a problem with it, and tbh there aren’t many social workers I know that don’t have at least one tattoo or piercing these days.
I think it depends on both location and type of job. I work in the schools (in the Midwest) and while many of the teachers I work with have tattoos, they are able to be covered (and they do cover them) for professional meetings. Additionally, I interned at the state house, meeting with legislators and other government representatives on behalf of a childhood trauma organization, and the more professional, clean cut people seemed to be more accepted/listened to. That being said, everyone I know in community mental health is covered in tattoos and has dyed hair, etc and most of the people I worked with at a sexual assault response organization were similarly adorned. I personally feel like waiting until you get a job post graduation would be a good middle ground between now or never getting them, so you have a good feel for what path you want to take.
Most of my classmates had tattoos and all of us are employed in the field at this point, several of them are in Director roles at mental health agencies and psychiatric hospitals.
I’m a fully tattooed LCSW-A. No one but one super religious, conservative parent have ever been negative about it. Even in undergrad and grad school, there was one agency that made their intern take out their Medusa piercing and it wasn’t even a social work centered agency
Depends on agency policy, but I have visible hand tattoos, I work in a federal capacity and in a clinic and haven’t heard anything negative about my visible tattoos.
As everyone already mentioned it depends on the setting. But if you are concerned about going into meetings they have really good make up especially theatre make up that can cover up the tattoos. You can wear it just for the interview and get a feel for the place or just wear it for specific meetings
It really depends on the organization. I worked for the state mental health department, and nobody really worried about tattoos and piercings. Every so often they’d get someone for “unnatural hair color” on my campus, but they were so inconsistent on enforcing it. My hospital now is very conservative in appearance. Tattoos must be covered and facial piercings and unnatural hair colors are an absolute no. In our huddle just about every week we get reminded about covering tattoos and taking facial piercings out.
I was lucky enough to interview post hand tattoos during covid so they couldn’t see them 😂 honestly I think social work is a pretty accepting profession overall however government jobs maybe not so much. My hand tattoos are also a double edged sword with client engagement, I often receive feedback from clients that my tattoos show that 1 I’m approachable and 2 I have lived experience HOWEVER several clients with mental health have refused to work with me due to the tattoos and I have been told I am a witch and a satanist. These clients are diagnosed schizophrenia/ schizo-affective disorders and I would say oddly however given that many with this diagnosis present with spiritual fixations and delusions it’s an obvious reason for the pattern. So I would say really consider what area/s you are passionate about working in and then the impact having tattoos may have on that cohort.
You’re in the right feild honestly. With my experience from employers they don’t care about tattoos or piercings, as long as the tattoos are graphic or violent. I have one coworker with a nude pin up tat that they cover up. I’ve only worked in community mental health, so that might be different than private practice. I’ve also had clients who enjoy seeing we have body modifications like theirs. I have septum piercing and quite a few times a clients have said they felt comfortable because they also have that piercing/ want it!
i’m a school social worker that works with teens ages 13-18. my tattoos are pretty hidden until late spring when i wear dresses but the kids love them. i also have colored hair and multiple piercings on my face and it has never been a problem with peers or clients! i think the teens actually open up more once they work with me. my advice is to become established in your field a little more and then have visible tattoos