A therapist who has sex to cure her patients

Padma Deva, 31, a London-based sex therapist, treads an unbeaten path in helping her patients cope with an unfulfilled sex life by sleeping with them. Her oldest client is aged 65 while the youngest is 25. "Both men consulted Padma because they were virgins and felt unable to have any
sort of sex life. Padma helps them overcome their fears over nine two-hour sessions for which she charges £4,000," reported Daily Mail.

Trained by the International Professional Surrogate Association, Padma told the website that her role is to be a form of mentor, guiding people who are struggling with intimacy issues.

When Padma Deva meets a new client for work she does not go to a conventional meeting point like her office or a coffee joint, instead she chooses a private space like a hotel room.

Sex"During an initial consultation with a new client, Padma - who has bases in London and Somerset - recommends a client sees their GP to rule out physical causes for their sexual problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. If surrogacy is deemed appropriate, she asks clients to take a sexually transmitted disease test beforehand. Only then can then the surrogacy work begin."

"The meeting usually lasts for two hours during which time the two of them are likely to undress, massage and caress one another. Sometimes they will have full sexual intercourse."

At the end of the encounter, the satisfied client will pay Padma for the service she has provided and the two will go their separate ways - until their next appointment.

You may conclude that Padma works in 'the oldest profession' of all. But you would be wrong.

Padma is not a prostitute but a trained psychotherapist who acts as a 'sexual surrogate' for men suffering from a variety of sexual problems which are hampering their ability to have a normal physical relationship.

"How does her family react?
Her family was initially shocked by her radical career change, though they are now supportive of her.

Equally, she says that while she is currently single, previous boyfriends have been understanding about her line of work.

"It takes confidence, intelligence and maturity in a man to be OK with what I do," she told Daily Mail.

What inspired her?
Padma is a former management consultant who decided to transform her life after watching the film Sweet November, in which Keanu Reeves plays an emotionally-inert workaholic.

She also told this to Daily Mail: "I read about the Mughal era in India, where they would send young boys to specialised prostitutes who would educate them in the art of love-making. I remember wishing something like that had been available to me."

How do professionals view her approach?
Psychologist Dr Mantell questions whether such cases wouldn't be better treated by more conventional forms of therapy.

"Turning to sexual surrogacy can be an emotionally messy experience. Clients become attached to their surrogates, the objects of their sexual fantasies, and this can lead to difficulties in transferring feelings to one's spouse or partner," he told Daily Mail.

Padma's response to detractors is: "To the skeptics, I would say that it is giving me a chance to have a life I could only dream of - and what's wrong with that?"