"By definition a sexual surrogate, or surrogate partner, is a professional who helps clients overcome sexual dysfunction. Most surrogates are women, a few are men and there are also married couples that practice surrogacy together. The general term of sexual surrogacy can involve varying levels of practice. Some surrogates work at counseling centers while others have their own office. Some surrogates offer additional services besides surrogacy such as telephone counseling or sexological bodywork."

http://sexsurrogateofla.com/sex-surrogate-center/sex-surrogacy-articles/what-is-a-sex-surrogate/

I am reading my ethics assignment and this is one of the difficult judgments that psychologists have--whether or not sexual surrogacy is an ethical practice.

I think it's pretty out there, but that's not to say that I don't find it extremely intriguing. I mean, talk about 8th house. I'd have to read some of the science behind it to really decide whether or not this is a good idea, but what do you think?

I think surrogates are on the razor's edge of ethics ! But I think they're also probably very grounded and compassionate people; and provide a vital service to their community.

I wonder if anyone here has had one and is willing to share his or her experience?

So many questions come to mind. What if the patient has a psychosomatic illness? What if they don't really want to be cured? What if the practitioner falls in love with a patient or vica versa? Is there a hippocratic oath for the practitioners?

It's prostitution.  Specialized.  ::shrugs::

Elsa calls a spade a spade.

I knew that you would say that Elsa.

Lol, neptune.

I've got nothing against prostitutes.  I was shocked at the recent mugshots of whores in Denver I saw though:

http://imgur.com/a/mSVQp#0

Whoa, freaky...

Their eyes freak me out.... and some make me sad.

A tricky question, indeed. I have Chiron in the 8th house (Equal Houses) opposing my NN/Venus/Uranus. Someone who saw my chart told me once I'd probably be drawn to and draw partners who found sex with me therapeutic. And I think that's true. All my partners have had a some sort of a Venus wound. I could never imagine doing this professionally, though.

Some of those mugshots were profoundly disturbing. 

Logically I have nothing against prostitution or sexual surrogates in theory, but the whole idea skeeves me out.

I can see the benefits of a surrogate in some circumstances and when the situation in controlled. I really think some need help in this area and if they cannot find help they need to pay for it.

I'm glad I never needed such a service but I know some men who would have benefited from such teachings, ha ha!

Haha, me too, Annalisa.

I was thinking we used to call these people prostitutes ... Have nothing against them, either. I think it should be legal.

Lol, Annalisa :)

In theory, I can see it. But, we are talking humans here with emotions and discerned sexual dysfunctions so I don't agree with the actual act of having sexual contact with a therapist. I think this profession could be easily exploited.

I like what they say in the article here:

This is why surrogates work closely with sex therapists. Since many sexual problems are psychological rather than physical, communication pays a key role in the process. Not only between lovers, not only between a client and his sex surrogate, but also between the surrogate and the therapist.

First of all, sexual surrogacy is not just about sex as a device. If you try and meet a certified surrogate and fictionalize a sexual problem just for your own entertainment, you’re not going to get very far. Sexual surrogacy is about sexual, physical and psychological health. Remember that surrogates work closely with therapists or psychologists, ensuring that the problem is corrected and that the client makes significant progress.Instead of providing a man with a date, as would an escort agency, a surrogate would help men improve their social and dating skills, if the therapist agreed there was a problem. But surrogacy is not a sex business—it’s a field of study, a professional practice, a source of sexual education.

It makes it sound like physical contact would be last resort. Still, I feel kind of hinky about it. I think it is more important to deal with the emotional side of the problems and then seek medical advice for physical problems. Now, a medical profession that dealt specifically with sexual problems in an atmosphere that was more comfortable than an office would be helpful because that is hard for many to talk about. But, is it really necessary to actually *touch*? I just think it should be approached from a clinical sense. Apparently, this type of thing wouldn't be for me. I think it opens the door to a whole new set of problems for the client.

I was having a big Neptune about this topic - I was like "oh yea, what's your problem guys" blah blah until I realized we weren't talking about sex therapy   oy vey, I think I need more coffee.....

I don't know...there are some really damaged human beings who could be helped by this.  Who are we to deny someone healing because of our personal semantics?  Some of us are lucky enough to meet "healers" on our own, and some people are so frightened, so neurotic etc. that this might be the only way to reach them and attempt to introduce normalcy.

Have you ever read "When Rabbit Howls"?  The fact that she even survived that is a testament to the human spirit...

So  many in the pictures with the whites showing under their eyes.  That is such an indicator of sadness...   :-(

Yeah. I call bullshit lol If you need to heal your sexual relationship, you don't need to introduce a stranger into your sexual relationship, you need someone to help you be courageous enough to face the issue with the person  in your life. Sounds like a fetish to me "ooh, please let ME heal your sexual dysfunction" lol 

I dunno. 

Plus, a major aspect of sexual intimacy is emotions (or lack thereof). How can you fully heal an emotional relationship when you are (presumably) having robotic sex with a "therapist?" 

When I worked for the doctor's office, we had a patient who may or may not have been somewhere on the autistic spectrum (one former doc of ours dx'd him as asperger's, but he thought everyone was somewhere on the austistic scale, so there was debate *smiles*); one thing that was for sure, though, was that he was a bestialist.  Cats, specifically.  We referred him to a sex therapist and surrogate in adjunct with his therapy in our office to re-direct his sexual preference back to people in a safe, sane, healthy way.

Obvy, I'm all for it in the proper circumstances.  Did this dude a world of good.  When I left he was tentatively dating his first human girlfriend.  :)

Whoa. Interesting, SaD.

I thought it was pertinant.  ;)

I'm more on the fence about using surrogates for things like anxiety-induced erectile dysfunction, for example, but they can be a real help with major dysfunction and reprogramming after trauma (like with rape victims).

If you have a problem with any other part of your mind or body, you go to a Doctor or a Therapist, or whatever... you get help to set things straight. Why is this any different?

Sure, there's room for unscupulous bastards to take advantage, or conduct themselves unethically, but this is also true in any other Medical or Psych sphere too.

I briefly tried to look up some research on this, but didn't find much.

Google "grey area" @Caroline

Lol :)