| 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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