Something you're not really taught in school that much - because, well, it's awkward to teach I suppose - is how to understand that you may not connect with everyone, and everyone may not connect with you. I have had several years of experience and therefore for the most part I handle rejection fairly well in my career. There's an understanding that not everyone will feel comfortable with you, and it's just that, nothing more. It's not personal, it's business (although one could argue...).
As a therapist, it's so important for us to remove our personal feelings and not allow how we feel to cloud the relationship between therapist and client. Just because I felt like a session went wonderfully, the client could feel completely the opposite. I may think I hit the nail on the head, reflecting what I think is a breakthrough epiphany, and the client agrees in the moment but actually really disagrees; he/she may put on a front to appease me. It sounds weird, but sometimes there's that dynamic of wanting to please your therapist and put forth your best self, but I digress.
Bottom line, just as it is in life, not everyone will like you. And that is ok! As the role of the practitioner, our duty is to our client; to what is best for this client. There's no shame in a client requesting to see someone else, just as there is no shame in a therapist feeling like they are unable to connect to a client. For example, if someone came to me with a significant issue I fell ill-equipped to handle based on lack of training, I would refer that person to a specialist who could better meet their needs.
Moreover, it's important to consistently just be your authentic self, and recognize that not everyone will jive with it. Not everyone is going to understand your quirks, and that's ok. Bottom line, how you feel about yourself is most important. Opinions are just opinions, not facts. Embrace your style, embrace your weirdness, embrace you!
Ok, that's my positive contribution to Monday. Talk soon!
xx
S