History

Dr. Pierre Janet, professor of Psychology at the College de France. wrote two books “L’Automatisme” (1891) and “La Medicine Psychologique” (1900)-not yet translated into English,-presented his discovery of the unconscious mind.  These books served as the source of inspiration for a more precise work presented by Dr. Berillon, a French psychologist and authority on mental diseases.  Dr. Berillon introduced in 1908  to the Paris Academy of Medicine “Psychotherapie Graphique” based on written (graphic) exercises to change mental disorders.  Dr. Berillon realized and supported the relationship between the subconscious and the writing movement.

In 1929 Dr. Pierre Janet was shown a copy of Berillon’s technique and found it so remarkable that from 1929-1930 he, with Prof. Henry, (Director of Physiology at the Sorbonne Medical School of Paris), and Paul de Sainte Colombe, psycho-graphologist validated the efficacy of “Psychotherapie Graphique”.

Graphotherapy began to be practiced by three doctors in 1931: Dr. Pierre Menard, Prof. Joire and Dr. Streaepski, all publishing further works on the subject.  The first American coverage of the subject was an article in Time Magazine (1956) with graphotherapist Raymond Trillat treating 600 mentally disturbed children in Paris.  Paul de Sainte Colombe published in 1966 “Graphotherapeutics”, the first book offered to the American public on this subject.

History

In 1662 Camillo Baldi wrote the first known book on the subject of Graphology, recognizing the nature of the writer from his handwriting.  In 1871 “Graphologie” became the term to identify this new science when two priests, Abbe Flandrin and Jean Michon (who had a photographic memory) published their work after each dedicating 30 years interpreting specific isolated signs. William Peyer’s 1895 book, “The Physiology of Writing”, supported the theory that handwriting is actually brain writing since writers could recreate crucial similarities in their handwriting, even if they wrote using their mouth or foot.  The book, “Character and Handwriting” by Crepieux-Jamin (1888) established the rules which make graphology a real science of observation based on classified knowledge.

During the 1920’s Max Pulver, a Swiss psychologist, introduced the importance of the unconscious drives in handwriting and Robert Saudek’s published works validated handwriting analysis as a predictable study.  His 1930 “Character and Personality” was the first graphology journal to appear in English.

Others who contributed to this subject were a Harvard psychologist team, Allport and Vernon, who explored handwriting as really being “brain writing”; Nobel prize winner, Dr. Pierre Janet*, Dr. Henry Bergson, Dr. Charles Henry (Director of Physiologie at the Sorbonne), C.G. Jung, and neurologist Rudolph Pophal studying motor-physiological aspects in writing, as well.

*Paul de Sainte Colombe was his student and later his colleague.

Uses

Graphology provides a valuable tool for discovering and understanding behavior and personality, including a personality weaknesses and strengths,  normal and abnormal tendencies.

It also enables us to see ourselves as we truly are. Graphology takes much of the risk out of choosing a business partner, an employee, selecting a baby sitter, or potential marriage partner.

Uses

The goal of graphotherapy is is to make specific changes in the handwriting that

should become an automatic response to a voluntary effort.

Since handwriting proceeds from and reflects the subconscious mind, it provides a direct course for reaching this powerful influence which dominates each of us.  We can change a character weakness or enhance a positive attribute by changing the corresponding sign(s) in our handwriting.  Once the change, (through consistent written exercises done twice daily over a period of weeks), is practiced, it becomes natural to the handwriting, the particular weakness corrected will disappear, or develop and strengthen the preferable trait.

Case histories demonstrate the effectiveness when working on introversion, laziness, depression, addiction, unsustained willpower to name a few.

                                           Paul de Sainte Colombe

Background:  Mr. de Sainte Colombe held degrees in Philosophy, Literature and Law.  Returning from WWI, Paul practiced law in Paris.  His literary creativity found a new outlet in all medias.  When France fell to Hitler, Paul was in Hollywood in connection with a motion picture he had written.  Here he remained and in 1946 became a U.S. citizen, later marrying his American collaborator, screenwriter, Kathi Lanier.

Graphology Connection: Mr. de Sainte Colombe pursued a lifelong research in, and practiced of, graphology.  He participated in the pioneering work on Graphotherapy conducted at the Sorbonne (1929-1931) by the reknowned physician and psychologist, Dr. Pierre Janet (Freud’s teacher) whose clinical tests proved its efficacy.  This work became the basis of the alphabet Mr. de Sainte Colombe developed with letter formations allowing for creativity, legibility, and simplicity.

After publication of the best seller “Graphotherapeutics” in 1966, which introduced graphotherapy to the United States, demand for his services drew him into the exclusive practice of graphology and graphotherapy, helping countless people worldwide change their lives by simply changing certain strokes in their handwriting that corresponded to the difficult, negative trait.

Achievements: Of his numerous achievements, a daily newspaper “advice” column, “Your Life is in Your Hand” featuring Paul discovering in handwriting the often hidden factors that contributed to a person’s problem.  He was commissioned as a colonel by the Kentucky governor for helping a troubled youth by applying graphotherapy  to overcome depression, timidity, and insomnia induced by fear of failure in school.  Graduating with top honors, the student went on to medical school and head a hospital department.

Paul’s graphological consultation included working with for the Youth Drug Study Unity of the Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute (UCSF), also for Patton State Mental Health Hospital, CA.  He focused on drug addicts that were “strung out” and needed rehabilitation.  Many of these patients having had graphotherapy treatment, became self-sufficient and went on to live productive lives.

Paul’s Personality: Of the man himself, he was ever-ready to help others to improve themselves,  assisting countless people worldwide.  In return he was loved and honored for his gentleness, comprehension, wisdom, courage, good humor and patience.

                                                       Kathi de Sainte Colombe

Kathi de Sainte Colombe’s association with Paul began with their collaboration as Hollywood screenwriters in 1941.  Being a part of “Hollywood” they gave, as well as, were invited to parties -tame by today’s standards-where Paul agreed to impromptu handwriting analyses.  Soon Paul became known for his graphological skills and thus was hired to do confidential graphological and graphotherapy services by many in the film industry.

Kathi’s interest in, and study of this science grew through the subsequent years of working with Paul.  Kathi  wholeheartedly assisted in Paul’s work on his book “Graphotherapeutics” for one solid year.  This served as her apprenticeship in what Kathi often said was the most deeply absorbing and fulfilling work she had ever done.  Publication of the book placed this team exclusively into the practice of graphology and graphotherapy.

After Paul’s passing, Kathi created the ‘Paul de Sainte Colombe Center’, where she carried on their work in helping others to overcome their addictions, stuttering, depression, suicidal tendencies, and any other emotional disturbances.  Kathi said of graphology, “It has completely changed my outlook on life.  What a difference it makes in your life when you know it; you are protected by the knowledge.  It should not make you hypercritical with others, instead you understand people better.  In a way, it makes you more indulgent in understanding the person as to why they do certain things.  Learn it, and use it.”

Rose Toomey became the Colombes trustee after Kathi’s death in 1992.