True or False: The way a counselor dresses can be part of the active placebo effect.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Depends on the client

Answer: (A)

Expectancy and the therapeutic context can shape how well a client responds to counseling. How a counselor presents themselves, including clothing, sends signals about competence, credibility, and safety. When a client perceives the counselor as professional and trustworthy, their beliefs about the treatment’s usefulness increase, which can boost engagement, reduce anxiety, and enhance motivation to change. These shifts can produce real improvements even though the specific therapeutic technique isn’t the sole active factor—that’s the essence of an active placebo-like effect in therapy. So attire is one contextual cue that can influence outcomes by shaping the client’s expectations and the therapeutic alliance.