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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!godot!harvard!seismo!rochester!ur-cvsvax!gary
From: gary@ur-cvsvax.UUCP (Gary Sclar)
Newsgroups: net.consumers,net.flame
Subject: Commercial Ventures
Message-ID: <143@ur-cvsvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 6-Dec-84 15:56:48 EST
Article-I.D.: ur-cvsva.143
Posted: Thu Dec  6 15:56:48 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Dec-84 07:01:09 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Center for Visual Science, U. of Rochester
Lines: 23
Xref: watmath net.consumers:1520 net.flame:7134

Another in my continuing series of money making ideas. More and more people
these days seem to require psychiatric help to make it through the problems
and emotional upheavals in life. However, visits to most psychiatrists,
even those employing 'sliding scales' are inordinately expensive; many
people become 'hooked' on a habit that is just beyond their means. Some
kind of discount service is called for. In addition, most shrinks require
that you make formal appointments and show at their convenience, not when
you feel troubled, and need emotional support and sound advice. What about
"Tele-Shrink". This would be a psychiatric counseling service available
only over the phone. Subscribers would pay an initial membership fee,
which would enable them to talk to any of a number of trained
pschologists, paying only for connect time and a small additional fee as a
function of time. You pay only for what you feel you need, not for
additional treatments of dubious value. Calling a particular extension
during a particular time would enable you to (perhaps) get ahold of
particular therapists. For a small additional fee, one might arrange for
the therapist to call you. Another additional benefit, especially for women
would be that there would be no opportunity for the therapist to try and
seduce the female patient, as often happens in the case of female patients
and male psychiatrists. For paranoid patients, a small scrambler system
might be installed on the subscriber's phone line to prevent unauthorized
parties from listening in. As always, your comments and criticisms are
encouraged. {seismo!rochester!cvsvax!gary}