Story idea - Prostitute turned sex therapist.

[Rozalin_0123]

I have an online friendship with a woman who stays at a brothel in Nevada. She always has interesting stories to tell and has brought a lot of insight into how those establishments work.

One of the things she told me is she often gets clients who suffer from some kind of sexual dysfunction, be it performance anxiety, unable to lose virginity, difficulty coming to terms with a particular fetish, etc. She said sometimes she felt more like a sex therapist than a prostitute.

Which gave me an idea for a story series and I'm wondering if people would find it interesting:

A smart young woman raises money for college by being a resident at a brothel in Nevada. During her time there, she realizes she's helping men, and the occasional woman, overcome sexual ailments. This inspires her to major in psychology. Using the combined knowledge of her education as well as her experience being a prostitute, she opens her own clinic which uses a... hands on approach. The series would take on a format similar to a TV show in which each "episode" follows the same general format, but focus on different clients each time with unique cases. Think "House" but a sexy therapist instead of an asshole doctor.

While that is the general idea, the format in which to use is something I'm still trying to decide. My original idea was to write each episode in first person from the POV of the therapist like she is reading her notes after the initial consultation. Then it jumps to third person from the POV of the client.

Does any of this sound like an interesting read? Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

 

[MLStafford]

I think this sounds like an interesting idea. I saw a documentary about a legal brothel in Nevada, and it mentioned that quite a few of the men actually do not have sex with the workers. They pay for their time, then spend that time talking to them.

And as you mentioned, when the workers do have sex with the men (and women), sometimes they are helping them work through issues.

One possibility for the story is that the main character starts the psychology treatment while working in the brothel. Perhaps word gets around that she is particularly good at helping with certain problems, and men start to come in asking to see "The Doctor." (Or Doctor Tanya, or whatever name she goes by.)

She might be working at the brothel because she has not been able to find a decent-paying job in her field of study. And the crushing debt of her college loans motivates her to find a better paying job at the brothel.

She might also have had a minor in psychology in college, so she already has some working knowledge. And the experience of talking to her clients would help her learn and grow and become more skillful in helping them.

 

[Bramblethorn]

I have an online friendship with a woman who stays at a brothel in Nevada. She always has interesting stories to tell and has brought a lot of insight into how those establishments work.

One of the things she told me is she often gets clients who suffer from some kind of sexual dysfunction, be it performance anxiety, unable to lose virginity, difficulty coming to terms with a particular fetish, etc. She said sometimes she felt more like a sex therapist than a prostitute.

FWIW, that line also gets blurred from the other side: some 'official' therapists have sex with clients as part of the therapy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_surrogate

Certainly has story potential!

 

[sirhugs]

You might want to watch The Sessions. Warning though- I do not suggest this because it is a stroke film- just the opposite, though it has very erotic moments.

 

[HeyAll]

That does sound pretty interesting.

If if could make a suggestion, why not make the main character more advanced? Meaning, she already has a BA degree in psychology, now she's going for a master's degree. In a way, it gives her slightly more credibility.

Maybe she's even interned for a legit phychologist, so she has some experience with how things are run.

 

[Rozalin_0123]

The more I think about it, the more I think the main character ends up with a Master's Degree in psychology before opening her own clinic. Something along the lines of; during her internship, she realizes that others in the same field are more inclined to prescribe drugs than address problems at the source. While medications are sometimes necessary, she also knows she's helped others while working in the brothel without the use of drugs.

Also toying with the idea of her clinic being part of a brothel itself. Would have near infinite possibilities from a sex standpoint, but I wonder if it would lose plausibility later on.

Good suggestions so far

 

[JennXTC]

Its definitely a great premise. I actually go to school in Nevada and every year there is a prostitute from the Mustang Ranch who comes out and talks to the Human Sexuality classes. Its mostly a safe sex lecture, and if you go to UNR the putting the condom on the banana demonstration is actually kind of an annual event.

From what I've heard many of the legal prostitutes in Nevada are very good at helping people with sexual dysfunctions.

 

[cripple92996]

lets explore

As a wheelchair user I can contribute much .

 

[goalie31]

Good film, good story idea

You might want to watch The Sessions. Warning though- I do not suggest this because it is a stroke film- just the opposite, though it has very erotic moments.

You're right. This movie did have some very erotic moments, but it was a very touching and moving film overall, too. I love movies bast on true stories, such as these.


As for the thread topic overall, I love the idea for this story. I hope the idea becomes a full-fledged series. You have a fan in me already!

 

[Bramblethorn]

The more I think about it, the more I think the main character ends up with a Master's Degree in psychology before opening her own clinic. Something along the lines of; during her internship, she realizes that others in the same field are more inclined to prescribe drugs than address problems at the source. While medications are sometimes necessary, she also knows she's helped others while working in the brothel without the use of drugs.

Noting that in most places, psychologists aren't able to prescribe drugs. Within the USA, it's currently only permitted in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Illinois, and you'd need a lot more than a Master's Degree to do so. Drugs are usually prescribed by a psychiatrist, who's a specialised MD.

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2004/05/louisiana-rx.aspx
http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb05/prescription.aspx
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/06/prescribe-medications.aspx

 

[Rozalin_0123]

Noting that in most places, psychologists aren't able to prescribe drugs. Within the USA, it's currently only permitted in New Mexico, Louisiana, and Illinois, and you'd need a lot more than a Master's Degree to do so. Drugs are usually prescribed by a psychiatrist, who's a specialised MD.

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2004/05/louisiana-rx.aspx
http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb05/prescription.aspx
http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/06/prescribe-medications.aspx

Nice feedback! Thank you

This may require more research than I have time for. I'd want to do this piece justice...

 

[cripple92996]

hg

Roslin Id like to help

 

[LastLostIdols]

I'd love to read something like this. Could make great series, each chapter could be a separate interview and new client.

 

[DreamCloud]

I would drop using first person from the 'Doctors' perspective.

The story would have more legs if each episode was taking from the clients point of view. That way new emotions could be present in each episode. Nothing gets boring that way and you don't end up having to repeat yourself.

Either way, it is an intriguing concept.