The home visit to Jeanne, 102 years old and full of wisdom; Simone’s slightly overcooked cannelés… Guest on the set of the show “You are wonderful” presented by Ariane Brodier, Guillaume Couquet presents his first book in which he sincerely recounts his daily life as a physiotherapist.
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Guillaume Couquet is a physiotherapist in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne). Between two days of consultations, he talks about his daily life with humor on Instagram. His videos are going viral. Based on this observation, in 2024 he published his first book “Le Cœur sur la Main, sensitive chronicles of an extraordinary physiotherapist” published by Robert Laffont. On the set of the show “You are wonderful”, Guillaume Couquet presents his first book, a project that is close to his heart.
Near the beach, out of sight, in a festive setting, Guillaume Couquet answers questions from host Ariane Brodier.
Ariane Brodier : This is your first book. How did it go? Was it Robert Laffont Editions that approached you? Did you really want to write a book?
Guillaume Couquet : I’ve always wanted to write, but Instagram has unlocked a lot of things. And then, I have two guardian angels who helped me approach. There is Émilie, whom I thank
A lot, which encouraged me to send texts to several publishing houses. Then there is Noël, who was with Robert Laffont. He trusted me with this first book. It was incredible.
Ariane Brodier : In this work, you recount many of your consultations, but you also develop personal reflections, in the sense that you give your profession a particular meaning. I imagine the two are inseparable, you treat the body, but not only that.
Guillaume Couquet : Yes, for sure. I think we all have a different approach. It’s complicated to write and talk about your job and at the same time give the impression that it’s not you who’s writing it.
Often, when we talk with other caregivers, there is this sensitivity towards the other. Indeed, these values are important.
It must be said, caregivers have a certain sensitivity. We treat the body but not only that.
This first book presents different portraits of patients including that of Simone, a Toulouse woman with a big heart, but also stories that are sometimes more sensitive and difficult to tell.
Ariane Brodier : We all come away marked by the portraits you paint. I was particularly touched by Simone’s portrait. It’s page 50, if you allow me, I’ll read a few lines: “and then, there’s Simone, a patient at the Vieux Centre, rue de la Virginie d’Or. No scabrous connotation, but it’s really a reference to a plant whose other name is solidago and whose roots and leaves were used as a remedy for skin infections and insect bites Simone does not distil learned potions or mixtures based on it. No! Her medicine is her cannelés. I love them! She always apologizes for overcooking them, but that’s how I prefer them. . It gives them a little caramelized taste, it crisps in the mouth, and all the senses are nourished.
Guillaume Couquet : Simone’s cannelés exist for real. I’ll kiss her if she watches.
It’s little things, you see. Sometimes you make a home visit, we offer you little gestures like that. People often offer us food. It really makes me happy and it gives a little boost. The nurses, the nurses, the doctors at home, their cars are full of sweets and cakes.
Ariane Brodier : So as not to make anyone jealous, I think you like all the patients and all the meetings, it brings you something. But is there one that particularly struck you?
Guillaume Couquet : When you ask me this question, I think of a really, really sad story. I think patients can mark you in two different ways. Sometimes you really have to distance yourself from certain people because you feel like they could be friends. So you have to keep this caring side. Other times, you say to yourself “well, wait, I have to…”. I have a lot of admiration for people who work with sick children.
This story I’m thinking of is that of a little boy in a neurological rehabilitation center. I would love to tell it one day, but it is a very hard story.
Moving portraits and a special link with Toulouse, the pink city, in which Guillaume grew up.
Ariane Brodier : One of the quite moving things that is felt from the first lines of your book is the love you have for your city, for Toulouse, its history, its architecture, its inhabitants. How do you explain this link with this city?
Guillaume Couquet : I feel like it’s a bit like a story with parents, you know. At first you grow up in a place, then you want to move away from it and after a while you
come back. You end up finding your roots. You see things from a different angle and it’s a form of peace with yourself too, to find myself at ease in this city that I wanted to leave. It was a little tribute to Toulouse too. It’s a city that I really like.
All “You are wonderful” shows are available for replay on the france.tv platform.
