Julian Boulnois is a psychiatrist, he is most definitely not a psychologist, psychologists aim to be able to define normality and help their patients reach out for that goal; psychiatrists are a different breed, they try and treat mental illness, they try and take the symptom-full along a journey to being symptom-free, and then to travel onwards with them towards healthiness, a journey from being incomplete towards a place of completeness.

Julian Boulnois has practiced the art and science of the practice of mental health in South East Queensland for over a quarter of a century, and he genuinely feels that by now he might be beginning to get the hang of it! However there is always so much to learn, and less time in which to do the learning. Maybe at some point in life we should judge our age by how many years we have left, rather than by how many we have lived?!

Julian Boulnois has endeavoured to preach the Gospel (as it were) of mental health in all manner of places, his alter ego ran a radio show for the ABC for some years, as well as writing columns for both Sunday and weekly newspapers; it was there that on the Other Side of the Couch had it’s beginnings.

Julian Boulnois has travelled with his couch to any number of different places; including travelling around Vanuatu in a canoe; preaching from Cathedral pulpits; facilitating at a South Korean Taoist Psychotherapy conference; speaking at conferences as far apart as Paris France and Christchurch New Zealand; lecturing students from many disciplines and in many places…and so the list goes on. At the same time Julian Boulnois has continued to work in his private practice, as well as spending time within the public hospital system, and being involved with the day to day management of psychiatry as a profession.

Over the years Julian Boulnois has scribbled much, and spoken more – much to the chagrin of his wife – a notebook has always been with him – and as a direct result he has become an expert in accumulating rejection slips. Journalists criticise his writings as being “too much like those of a doctor”, and the medical profession say that he sounds far too much like a journalist. All of the above must mean that somewhere along the line Julian Boulnois has the balance just about right, so that based upon the advice of many, including his colleagues, his family and those who have sought his help, he has decided to publish on his own account, this time using the World Wide Web. Julian Boulnois genuinely hopes that he might enjoy what you read, come back for more, and don’t hesitate to pass comment, debate, or make suggestions.

After serving out my apprenticeship in medicine and psychiatry I dragged my long suffering family overseas to continue my education; Angela and I (and Lucy-Clare) were “joined” by Benjamin in New Zealand, but for the last twenty-five years I have worked at being “just a community psychiatrist” on the Gold Coast in South East Queensland. My family, and my colleagues, have persuaded me that there is nothing “just” about the importance of the mental health of the community; their enthusiasm has challenged me to believe that the ideas I have had – translated into miles of scribblings and “much mileage on my mouth” are worthy of a wider audience – and so the natural progression to this web site which I hope will prove as informative as it is fun – as well as providing an opportunity for feedback – for the key that is all that is truly healthy is communication, and the basis of all communication has to be a two way street, so I hope I am “all ears” as well as “all mouth”.