“It’s the real crossroads”

After the summer, Florence K will meet her first patients, in the UQAM psychology clinic, an essential passage to obtaining her doctorate.

The title of this series seems to have been made to measure for the singer, musician, columnist, animator on the radio, speaker and soon psychologist. After years of gentle transition, mixing piano and studies, the beginning of his internships will mark a transition in his life.

“I would tell you that really, this summer, while you are doing this article, it’s the real crossroads,” she said, sitting on her sofa, surrounded by his family and her tiny brown poodle.

At 42, Florence Khoriaty is passionate about human psychology to the point of devoting nine years of study and wanting to live on it. It already gives conferences on the subject in addition to holding a column on the radio. But the start of his internships will make his dream more concrete than ever. The music will move slowly … without leaving her heart.

The artist would like to continue singing for the public from time to time. Not to pay the bills, just to live a pleasant moment.

His reflections on his professional future are obviously tinged by the deep transformation of the music industry. The continuous listening platforms had a devastating effect on the income of those who do not create megasuccus. And on their ways of working.

Artists who can no longer count on the sale of albums must bet on tours. “But it’s saturated!” There are more artists, but no more rooms necessarily, she says. I had so much disillusions in the past year in the face of how industry could work … “

She also wonders: “In 10 years, do I still be able to tour? In addition, I deeply bother my house, from my children, when I leave. This is without counting that singers must now feed social networks constantly to keep in touch, a new, demanding, demanding task.

I conclude that the aspiring doctor is very provident. She bursts out laughing when I emphasizes this demonstration of wisdom, especially financial. Rather, she sees it as proof of her anxiety! Be that as it may, school benches are not a burden that she inflicts in despair. Florence has always liked to study. “It’s fun to go to bed in the evening and feel that we have learned. »»

Besides, after Cégep, she had obtained a baccalaureate in communication. “I couldn’t see myself stopping studying after Cégep. It was also to have a plan B because my mother, yes she is known today, but I saw my rusher parents A lot the first 10 or 12 years of my life. I saw how it was not easy for them to earn a living with their art. I did not want to experience this. »»

In other words, history is repeated.

There is no shortage of motivation. But Florence says it without detour: to reconcile her roles as a student, mother and artist is an exhausting balancingist number. The doctorate alone asks him for 30 to 60 hours per week. By force of things, it has become a “family” project, she said to me, while her lover empties the dishwasher. Without the support of her tribe, she would not succeed.

This is why she has often exclaimed, when she got home: “We had A+!” For her, it is obvious that the whole household contributed to her note … if only listening to her popular scientific presentations.

Florence also insists on the “serious” and the “rigor” of psychology, while recalling that the brain is an “organ”. “It is people’s health. We cannot afford to do things that are not scientifically proven. The research is super important. »»

Against all expectations, she fell in love with statistics. “The day you understand that your data, your analyzes tell a story, it’s like … the best deal in the world! »»

Florence’s passion is contagious when she talks about her research, theories on aging, the power of emotions or protective factors. That’s good: she likes to use her skills as a communicator to share her knowledge.

So far, it has given a hundred conferences on the theme of psychology. She also holds a column on the subject on the radio program Draw me one morning, Hosted by Franco Nuovo on Radio-Canada… Chronicle which she embellishes with a song on the piano.

“We can be two -way!” »»

Psychology is also a way for her to restore to the next. “I want to work in a job of helping relationship, I want to put myself at the service of my future patients. »»

Given her experience, her diagnosis of type II bipolarity, her major depression, her psychosis, she is convinced that she will be “really capable of empathy”. We would be unless.

By the end of her studies, she will continue her research work by working in two UQAM laboratories, the Creo (which is interested in the way in which the brain produces original ideas) and the Grace (which particularly looks at the development of identity among artists and athletes). These subjects, Florence embodies them and studies them with the enthusiasm of a person who has found his way.

She will also write her thesis which relates to a very little studied subject: the influence of mood and mental health on the level of creativity of artists. His work will allow him, she said, to demolish the myth according to which the tortured artists are more talented. With her scientific research, in which 200 artists from the Quebec scene participated, Florence promises to teach us a lot with “her big figures”. She will also launch a second study, Pan-Canadian this one, with 300 participants who will pass creativity tests over time while describing their mood.

The artists who become scientists being rather rare, its transition brings some new questions. Psychologists must be “as neutral as possible”, like white leaves for their patients. However, the personal life of Florence K is abundantly documented online. Will there be an impact? What if admirers come to the clinic, if patients are admiring?

These unpublished questions have aroused discussions with his teachers. But how do you know what will happen? There is no precedent. So Florence will have to become a psychologist to have answers.

Every day, this dream is getting closer. After giving her audience moments of happiness with her magnificent voice, Florence K is about to become an attentive ear. Another way for her to put herself at the service of others. To do good.