A "therapist" is a licensed professional who provides mental health counseling and support to individuals, couples, families, or groups to help them overcome emotional or psychological challenges, improve mental well-being, and foster personal growth. Therapists can have different specialties, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals.
It is not normal or appropriate for a therapist to ask you to undress when you first meet them, especially in a standard talk therapy session. If a therapist ever makes such a request during an initial meeting, it should raise serious concerns and might be considered highly unprofessional or even unethical behavior. The therapeutic process is built on trust, respect, and professional boundaries, and asking a client to undress without a clear and valid reason would be a violation of these principles.
If you encounter any uncomfortable or inappropriate behavior from a therapist or mental health professional, it is crucial to immediately voice your concerns and, if necessary, seek assistance from a supervisor or report the incident to relevant authorities or professional organizations. Your safety and well-being are of the utmost importance in the therapeutic relationship, and ethical standards are in place to protect clients from any form of misconduct.