You may be going through a difficult time.
Or perhaps you simply have the sense that something has gradually taken hold over time: a persistent inner tension, emotional fatigue, a difficulty finding a genuine feeling of safety or calm.
Some people feel they must remain constantly vigilant, as though their nervous system keeps anticipating the worst even when everything seems to be going well. Others describe a kind of exhaustion: the sense of having carried a great deal for a long time, until they have progressively lost touch with themselves.
It can also happen that one understands perfectly well what one has been through, while noticing that the body, the emotions, or certain reactions continue nonetheless to function as though the danger were still present. Sleep becomes more fragile. Anxiety returns for no apparent reason. Certain relationships become difficult or feel unsafe.
Sometimes, simply allowing oneself to relax seems to become complicated.
These reactions do not necessarily mean that something is wrong with you. They may reflect the way in which the brain and nervous system have adapted to certain life experiences, recent or longstanding.
If you recognize yourself in any part of this description, you are in the right place.
What I work with
I work with adults, adolescents, children, and couples facing different forms of psychological or relational suffering.
This may include anxiety, chronic stress, panic attacks, or emotional hypervigilance. Some people come following a trauma or difficult life experiences whose effects continue to make themselves felt long after the events themselves. Others are going through a period of psychological exhaustion, burnout, or loss of bearings.
I also work with attachment difficulties and affective insecurity, relational or couples difficulties, certain issues related to ADHD, as well as older forms of suffering that appear to have become durably inscribed in the body, the emotions, or the nervous system.
Consultations take place in my office in Marseille or via teleconsultation, in French and in English.
My approach
After more than forty years devoted to neuroscience research at CNRS, I have chosen to orient this chapter of my career toward neuropsychotherapy: understanding how life experiences, emotions, relationships, and brain function contribute to psychological suffering as well as to the process of healing.
My approach integrates EMDR, trauma-focused therapies, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), schema therapy, emotional regulation, and approaches drawn from contemporary neuroscience — in particular, polyvagal theory.
At the heart of this work lies a simple idea: when we better understand what is happening in our brain, our nervous system, and our relationships, it often becomes easier to understand what is happening in our life. This understanding does not erase suffering, but it frequently opens new possibilities for change.
This dialogue between neuroscience, psychotherapy, and human experience forms the foundation of my clinical practice, as well as of the project The Brain of Presence.
Related resources
Depending on your situation, you may wish to consult the following pages:
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EMDR – Understanding how the reprocessing of difficult memories can support psychological healing.
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Trauma – Better understanding the consequences of simple or complex psychological trauma.
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Attachment – Understanding how the brain gradually learns whether it can rely on the presence of others.
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Borderline Personality Disorder – Understanding the difficulties of emotional and relational regulation.
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Anxiety – Understanding the mechanisms of worry, hypervigilance, and panic attacks.
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Depression – Exploring the link between psychological exhaustion, loss of momentum, and a sense of disconnection.
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Couples Therapy – Understanding relational dynamics and attachment difficulties within the couple.
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Consultations – Practical information on consultations in Marseille or via teleconsultation.
Contact and appointment booking →
For a deeper exploration of the neuroscience of presence, you can also visit The Brain of Presence section.
Testimonials (see here)
K. (age 35). "The goal was never to make me dependent on sessions. It was about reprogramming the way I think, react, and process information — developing an inner awareness that will stay with me long after leaving his office. That is neuroplasticity in practice, not just in theory."
C. (age 33). "Working on my past traumas through EMDR helped me enormously to move forward. It freed me from unnecessary stress — and Driss gave me very useful tools to support me along the way. I could never thank him enough for his empathy, his precision in identifying the areas to work on, and his kindness." — Patient, individual therapy and EMDR