Chocaholism

Judith was a strikingly beautiful young woman who was not overweight.  She was getting married to her fiancé Mike in six months time, and told the therapist that she wanted to lose weight. 

"But from where?" said the therapist, looking up and down her body with an obviously exaggerated movement of the head.

"You can't see it because I dress well…" 

"You certainly do..." he said, again surveying her physique, with head-nodding approval. 

Judith laughed, but said she couldn't resist chocolate, and her fiancé  had told her that she would put on weight if she carried on eating chocolate.

The session was being recorded, and the therapist responded with an expression of mock horror, then turned to speak directly into the microphone of the tape recorder:

"Mike, I am sitting here talking to Judith, and I can quite understand why you are concerned about how much chocolate she eats.  If I had a girlfriend that looked like this, I'd also be terrified about her losing her figure.  But, Mike, listen to me!  Scientific research has shown that chocolate has a direct effect on the female hormone system!  That's why it's usually women who love chocolate.  If you take Judith's chocolate away, you risk sacrificing her femininity, her sexuality, and her self-esteem as a woman… Don't do it!

Judith listened to the speech incredulously.  The therapist instructed her to play the tape to Mike.  She did not agree to do so, and left the session laughing…

Judith and the PT therapist met again two years later.  Judith still looked terrific, even though she was now the mother of an 11-month old baby.  When the therapist asked about her chocaholism, she responded with a dismissive wave of the hand.  Not a problem...

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