20 commandments 6: Thou shalt not let your bad mood or personal issues influence your professional attitude

There are, of course a multitude of well known reasons why people shouldn’t bring their bad temper to work – any work. It’s unproductive, it’s unprofessional and it’s antisocial. But in mental health circles there’s a different dimension to consider.

We’re supposed to be working with clients and service-users to help them to develop effective coping skills. A large part of that work involves modelling. If we want our service-users to take us seriously when we talk to them about anger management or emotional management we really ought to be able to demonstrate those same skills ourselves.

We also have a responsibility to develop therapeutic relationships with those we work with. That isn’t easily achieved by stomping around like a bear with a sore head.

Leave your bad mood at the door when you enter your workplace (especially if that workplace is the client’s own home).