Publications

When you decide to start therapy, one of the first questions that often comes to mind is: Which mental health professional should I see? In Paris, there are many different types of therapists, and it can be difficult to understand the differences between a psychologist, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or psychopractitioner. The truth is, there isn't one "best" professional. The right choice depends on your individual needs, as well as finding someone you feel comfortable and s

Many people hesitate before reaching out to a therapist. They wonder whether their struggles are "serious enough" or whether they should simply wait for things to get better on their own. In reality, you don't need to be going through a major crisis to start therapy. Therapy can be a way to better understand what you're experiencing, navigate a difficult period, or simply take better care of yourself. There Is No "Right" Reason to Start Therapy Some people begin therapy after

Psycho-Organic Analysis (POA) has just celebrated its 50th anniversary. Developed in 1975 by Paul Boyesen, it builds on the tradition of Biodynamic Psychology founded by his mother, Gerda Boyesen, while drawing on both psychoanalytic theory (Freud and Jung) and body-oriented psychotherapy inspired by Wilhelm Reich. Half a century later, rather than feeling outdated, Psycho-Organic Analysis appears particularly well suited to many of the psychological challenges people face to

In my previous article, I explained why extreme heat can affect our emotional balance. Here are a few simple ways to navigate a heatwave with greater self-compassion. These are not miracle solutions, but gentle reminders that can help ease both the physical and mental strain. Slow Down—Mentally as Well as Physically When we think about a heatwave, we often focus on moving less. But slowing down mentally is just as important. Try to reduce the number of decisions you need to m

When temperatures soar, most of us think about staying hydrated, closing the shutters, or slowing down physically. What we tend to think about far less is what extreme heat does to our minds. Yet heatwaves are often accompanied by a distinct emotional burden: a lingering sense of anxiety, increased irritability, and mental fatigue that cannot simply be explained by poor sleep. This is neither a sign of weakness nor "all in your head." It is a perfectly understandable physiolo

“I Don’t Know What to Say to Them.” That is often the very first thought that comes to mind when we realize that someone we care about is struggling with depression. We want to help, but we are afraid of saying the wrong thing. We want to be there for them, but we do not know how. Sometimes, we even end up pulling away—not out of indifference, but out of a sense of helplessness. This article is for you: someone who loves a person living with depression and is looking for ways

Does your heart start racing before a meeting? Do you mentally rehearse every sentence before speaking? Do you replay past conversations over and over, wondering whether you said something awkward? If these situations feel familiar, you may be experiencing social anxiety — a condition that is far more common, and often far more intense, than simple shyness. Social anxiety is the fear of being seen and judged by others. The fear of being criticized, embarrassed, or rejected. I

A romantic breakup is not simply the end of a relationship. It can also touch older wounds, awaken deep fears, and challenge our sense of emotional security. This is why some breakups can feel particularly painful, even when we rationally know that the relationship was no longer fulfilling. A Breakup Is Also a Form of Grief After a separation, we are not only losing a person. We are also grieving: A shared life project Daily routines and habits A vision of the future A part o

You may have noticed that certain situations trigger an almost irresistible need for reassurance. Perhaps you regularly ask your partner if they still love you. You reread your messages several times before sending them. You need others to confirm that you have done the right thing or that everything will turn out fine. This need for reassurance is deeply human. However, when it becomes pervasive, it can create significant distress and contribute to ongoing anxiety. Why Do We

You apologize often, even when something isn't really your fault. You replay conversations in your head, wondering whether you said the right thing. You feel a vague sense of discomfort whenever you take time for yourself. You have the impression that you're never quite enough — as a parent, partner, friend, or colleague. That feeling that seems to follow you everywhere is guilt. And for many people, it has become so familiar that they no longer know what life feels like with

You go grocery shopping, you manage pediatric appointments, you remember classmates’ birthdays, you plan school outings in advance, you think about vitamins, the dentist, the winter coat that will need replacing. All of this — while also handling your work, your relationships, and the rest of your life. This weight has a name: parental mental load. What is it? Parental mental load refers to the full set of invisible cognitive tasks involved in organizing family life. It is no

There are days when nothing feels right. You wake up without energy or motivation, move through the hours without really being present, and have little desire to do much of anything. A question gradually begins to surface: Am I depressed, or will this pass? It's a legitimate question—and often a difficult one to answer on your own. The line between a temporary low period and depression is not always easy to recognize from the inside. Here are a few ideas that may help. A Roug

You picked up your phone without consciously deciding to do so. You closed one app, opened another, then went back to the first. Twenty minutes have passed. You're not entirely sure what you've just looked at. This scenario may sound familiar. Perhaps it happens several times a day. And perhaps part of you wishes it were different. Screen addiction is a relatively recent topic and is still debated within clinical classifications. However, the distress it can cause is very rea

"Ive lost confidence in myself". This is a sentence that often comes up in therapy sessions. As if confidence had once existed fully — and simply needed to be found again somewhere beneath the ruins of disappointment, failure, or a relationship that caused harm. But what we call “self-confidence” is rarely something we once possessed completely. It is something that gets built. Slowly, layer by layer. And it can be rebuilt, even when we believe we have lost it for good. Self-

There are moments in life when everything seems to stop. The loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, a major life transition, or even the collapse of a future we had imagined for ourselves. These experiences can leave behind a silence and emptiness that words often fail to describe. Grief is not limited to funerals or mourning rituals. It is a deeply human process — one that is often long, unpredictable, and misunderstood. Why Is Grief So Difficult to Go Through? Beca

You avoid mirrors — or you can't stop looking at yourself with a harsh, critical eye. You dress to hide rather than to express yourself. You struggle to receive a compliment about your appearance, or simply to feel at ease in your own body. Our relationship with our body is one of the most intimate and emotionally charged aspects of our inner lives. And for many people, it is also one of the most painful. The body as a mirror of our history Our relationship with our body does

Family is supposed to be a safe haven. A place where you feel understood, accepted, secure. And yet — for many people, it's precisely where the deepest wounds were received. And sometimes still are. Family conflicts are among the most difficult forms of suffering to navigate. Because they touch the most foundational bonds. And because they're so often accompanied by a guilt that complicates everything. Why family conflicts are so particular In a friendship or a professional r

Anger is frightening. Sometimes to ourselves. Often in the eyes of others. We reach for more acceptable words instead: "I'm a bit stressed," "I was tired," "I'm not an angry person." We swallow it, turn it against ourselves, hide it behind politeness or silence. And yet, anger is an emotion in its own right. It is neither good nor bad. It is saying something — and it deserves to be heard. What is anger for? Anger is a response. It arises when something feels unjust, threateni

You redo what you just did. You read it over one more time. You don't send it because it's not quite right yet. Or you give up before you even start, so paralysed are you by the fear of not being good enough. Perfectionism is not a quality in disguise. It is often a silent form of suffering — and it deserves to be looked at honestly. Perfectionism is not the same as excellence There is a common confusion between perfectionism and rigour. Rigour is the desire to do things well

"I know what I need to do — but I'm not doing it." You have a to-do list. You know exactly what should be accomplished today. And yet the hours go by, you find yourself doing something else, and by evening you go to bed with that familiar feeling: a mix of shame, frustration with yourself, and the promise that tomorrow will be different. Procrastination is often described as a time management or motivation problem. But what I observe is that it almost always conceals somethin