MASLOW'S THEORY & CARPE DIEM

I want to use this blog as an outlet to tell all of my clients, and potential clients, how I work and why. I feel honesty, explanation and guidance is important especially with a job such as image consulting which is very personal and requires trust.

Maslow’s “hierarchy of needs” is a great tool for image consultants to create an understanding of the client’s needs. It really puts your needs into prospective. I love the idea of using this as a guideline in image consulting. As we review the steps in the below image, you might get an idea of what I mean by this.

Maslow believes this is the theory of motivation. As humans we all naturally feel the need to complete each level successfully and strive to get to the top. The catch is, we cannot go to the next level without completing the level that comes before, as it's a bottom to top trickle effect. Let me tell you how Carpe Diem's image consulting tackles each of the steps;

Physiological Needs:
During the initial consult and assessment phase, if I find that your physiological needs are not being met, I help connect you with the appropriate provider or caregiver. Some examples are; Doctors, Nutritionists, Psychotherapists, Sleep Therapists etc.

Safety and Security:
Believe it or not, this is where image consulting starts to work for you. Many people believe or even advertise that image consulting is only about your wardrobe. While that is a part of what I can do, that is not all I can or should be doing. When it comes to health, Carpe Diem will help you start and maintain healthy diets, create fitness plans and find a positive motivation to keep this going. Where employment is necessary, I can help you prepare for interviews, dress for success (cheesy I know, but true), practice appropriate communication skills and learn business etiquette. Keeping in mind that property is needed to achieve the next level, I can help you find a real estate agent to find a property suitable for you and fuel your motivation to fight for the best pricing and keep on looking. However, the reliance would be on you to succeed in finding the right property on your own with your agent and/or family. Next is family and social stability. Here is where teaching you the right communication skills for your family and friends can be helpful. However most importantly, I will be able to identify when you need more help in this stage and will always have a therapist to support me and you both. Carpe Diem works with several therapists and can provide referrals as needed.

Love and Belonging:
This is where I can incorporate our life management services and once again communication skills. Managing your current relationships is important. It gives you a sense of security in your friendships, family and love life. Communication is also necessary to help you develop and maintain said relationships. Again, if I recognize you may be in need of more help in this area, then I would refer you to a therapist. I am a strong believer that everyone needs therapists, just as much as we all need a doctor to go to for regular check ups. Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health. At the end of the day mental, emotional and physical well being, all tie in together and effect each other every day. You can't tell me you don't know what I'm talking about! #gtatherapy

Self-Esteem:
This is the most important step that many people struggle to get to. Hey, even I still struggle with this sometimes and it is normal to feel that way. However, once you do achieve great self-esteem, the confidence it gives you makes your capabilities seem almost limitless. Having been there myself, it is a very treasured feeling to achieve. Many of the services I provide as an image consultant achieve this state of self-esteem. This is because the way you look and portray yourself really affects your self-confidence and therefore happiness. To help you reach this level, I will learn the ins and outs of who you are by giving you personality tests and getting to know you. We then go through some potential styles that suit your unique personality in order to bring out the best in who you are. Of course lastly, I will style you and shop with you for future wardrobe maintenance. This process can be lengthy because it takes time to get to know a person, but it is that time and effort that image consultants should put into it that makes all the difference.
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Self-Actualization:
It is said that 99.9% of people stay at Self-Esteem and do not move up to this level. The 0.1% that do make it here are people such as the Dali Lama. However, keep in mind that proper Self-Esteem can of course motivate and inspire Self-Actualization, and that is what an image consultant should do for you - in fact, that is what Carpe Diem CAN do for you.
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I hope this post was able to give you a deeper understanding of image consulting and the hierarchy of needs! If this seems like something you are interested in exploring, please visit my website at www.seizethedaygta.ca. For further “Safety and Security” or “Love and Belonging” help, please also visit GTATherapy at http://www.gtatherapy.com/ and Thrive Toronto for Concierge Counselling at http://www.thrivetoronto.com/.

#carpediem #maslow #rulesofimageconsulting #gtatherapy #seizethedaygta