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Certain patients come into my office saying they are not getting anything done at the moment. They are often over-worked and over-stressed people.  I know from what they've told me that they could not possibly do more,  so I suggest that they take a piece of paper and that they start writting down absolutely EVERYTHING they get done in a day. Everything goes from emptying the dish-washer to fixing dinner for the family, calling an administration service to solve a small problem to reading a bed-time story, picking up a bottle of milk on the way home from work to [...]

One of the things that is passed on in AA is the HALT. Before using, HALT. Check if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. If the answer is yes to one of those questions, then find a solution other than alcohol. In my practice I have found that this works with all addictions. But it also works with non-addicts. When one of my patients is not feeling well, I ask them to check those four things. Dealing with Hunger or Tired is relatively easy. But the question is how does one deal with Anger or Loneliness ? I don't have [...]

"There is no better master of freedom than an addict in recovery." Professeur Michel Lejoyeux When I observe sober addicts around me, I see life in all it's beauty. Life appears sacred to me when I see an addict start to live again. And when I can accompany them on the path of recovery, I feel extremely  privileged. "Il n'est pas meilleur maître en liberté qu'un dépendant guéri." - Professeur Michel Lejoyeux Quand je regarde les personnes dépendantes autour de moi qui ne consomment pas, je vois la vie dans toute sa splendeur et je ressens le sacré de la [...]

The other day I had lunch with two friends who are in the same profession as me. Unfortunately for me we ate in a restaurant near a very large bookstore. So as soon as we finished lunch I ran off to the book-store to buy 3 of the many books they had mentioned... Some women are addicted to clothes, I am addicted to books. L'autre jour j'ai déjeuné avec deux amies psychologues. Malheureusement pour moi le restaurant était juste à côté de la FNAC. Donc à la sortie du déjeuner je suis allée acheter trois livres dont elles avaient parlé. [...]

If you give a man a fish, you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.- Lao Tseu A nutrition doctor mentioned this saying to me the other morning. He was saying that if doctors give ready-made diets to their patients they remain dependant on doctors and their science. So he tries to teach them to eat differently. I try to teach my patients to see life differently. And therefore to have more freedom in their lives.  Ready-made recipes don't work in psychotherapy !Si tu donnes un poisson à un [...]

I drink Yogi tea sometimes. I love the taste and I particularly enjoy their little tea tags with little sayings. I want to share this one with you: " To learn, read To know, write To master, teach." That is one of the reasons I love to teach. Often when I discover something new that may seem interesting for my students, I try to pass it on to them. More for myself really. That's how I get better at what I do. And for now they're not complaining ! Parfois je bois de la tisane de qui s'appelle "Yogi tea". [...]

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how [...]

The next planet was inhabited by a tippler. This was a very short visit, but it plunged the little prince into deep dejection. "What are you doing there?" he said to the tippler, whom he found settled down in silence before a collection of empty bottles and also a collection of full bottles. "I am drinking," replied the tippler, with a lugubrious air. "Why are you drinking?" demanded the little prince. "So that I may forget," replied the tippler. "Forget what?" inquired the little prince, who already was sorry for him. "Forget that I am ashamed," the tippler confessed, hanging [...]