To be Discussed or Not

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  There are certain no no’s in every culture – even the most “civilized” ones. Realistically, it’s a question of privacy and what should be on or off the record. In France, there are unquestionably psychiatrists and psychologists and other mental health professionals. The major or entire portion of the cost of the visit is covered by securite sociale. And yet, I’ve never met a French person who has owned up to being in therapy. Clearly, these specialized doctors aren’t talking to themselves unless they’re true disciples of Sigmund Freud and all they need to say is “humm” at appropriate moments. If you’re looking for an English-speaking therapist as many Expats and business people are, there are ways of identifying excellent ones; just not necessarily via word-of-mouth. Among the Expat community, there’s rarely a stigma associated with speaking to a professional but ask for a referral before you leave home. Most doctors can recommend colleagues with whom they’ve worked or have connections with as a result of conferences or “publish or die” papers that professeurs (doctors) are expected to produce. Many experts believe one shouldn’t do therapy in a foreign language unless he or she, as well the doctor, are 100% fluent and none of the nuances are lost because of semantics. Then, there are cultural differences that may be hard to overcome if you’re doing action-oriented therapy rather than analysis where you often spend years delving into your inner self. Lying on an analyst’s sofa for innumerable years is less in mode now. Few people have the time or the money. Foreign consulates and churches invariably have lists of doctors (of all types) who speak English or whatever your language happens to be. However, even though the majority of these doctors tend to be good, they’re not necessarily the best in Paris or other cities where you might find yourself posted. In Paris, another resource is Fusac, the free Anglophone publication that’s chock-a-block with ads for everything from apartments, refrigerators and therapists. Fusac caters to the foreign (especially the Anglophone Expat) community.  Rarely is there a city in any country where foreigners reside and/or multi-national companies where an equivalent magazine or website doesn’t exist. FYI — French doctors aren’t permitted to advertise.  They’re by no means the most highly paid on the economic ladder until and unless they’ve done their time and have opened a private office. Then, a professeur, who was head of the department of a prestigious university hospital, might be able to command as much as 300 Euros a consultation. That’s a far cry from the 24 Euros people are required to pay if they go to the neighborhood doctor or the clinic in their quartier (neighborhood). Or, if they’re researchers, some of the big money is derived from developing medications for Frances pharmaceutical companies – many of which are on the forefront of the medical field. Drugs are frequently introduced on the French market long before they receive approval from the US FDA (Federal Drug Administration).  France is probably the best known for developing and distributing the drug that has given people more than hope that there is life after being diagnosed as being HIV+ or having Aids. Sanofi-Aventis is a company which is renowned for its cutting-edge research and development. Another thing French people rarely discuss is plastic surgery. Yes, it’s public that Catherine Deneuve had her first face-lift in her mid-30’s and has had subsequent extremely subtle work done as she’s aged into being one of the most beautiful older women in the world.  If you look in the Paris yellow pages for plastic surgeons and dermatologists who do cosmetic work the search will unearth a substantial number of candidates, who can do everything from a full face-lift, botox, restiline and an entire “you can look better” menu if you want. Once again, we know these doctors aren’t sitting on their hands and forgoing using their skills creatively — but ask a French woman or man if they’ve had cosmetic surgery and undoubtedly the answer will be no. If you look in US major city magazines, every third ad is touting a doctor’s plastic surgery skills and cosmetic clinics, teeth whitening, massages (and I’m not alluding to the sexual ones) and gyms where to go and work out with or without a personal trainer.  Don’t forget the spa days targeting pre-natal, post natal, keeping in shape, getting older, rejuvenation and simply feeling better. Don’t think I’m not for pampering. If only I could afford it (both in terms of time and money) but spend a weekend in Los Angeles and you’ll come away with the impression that people’s lives (and professions) center around what time they can get to the gym. European cities don’t have gyms or workout emporiums every couple of blocks. First, there simply isn’t enough physical space in Paris to house machine after machine for running, abs, biking and pumping iron.  The reality is also that most people who live in European cities walk and don’t drive from one mega shopping center to another. It would be interesting to conduct a market study where people with homogeneous life styles and demographics wear pedometers. At the end of a month, I suspect people who walked up…
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