Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site ur-cvsvax.UUCP 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}