Former Teen Mom OG star Farrah Abraham raised a few eyebrows last week when she announced that she is currently offering sex, couples, and family therapy via half-hour and one-hour session on the adult streaming video site CamSoda. Farrah mentioned in her announcement that she has “worked with some of the best sex therapists in the world” before mentioning her appearance on VH1 Couples Therapy with Dr. Jenn specifically. So, what does Dr. Jenn think of Farrah’s latest business venture? We asked her all about it in an exclusive interview!
As a brief refresher, Farrah Abraham appeared on VH1 Couples Therapy with Dr. Jenn back in 2014. In a strange twist, Farrah appeared on the show by herself after her boyfriend, DJ Brian Dawes, reportedly bailed on her just prior to filming. (The validity of Farrah’s relationship with Brian has been called into question, most notably by Brian himself.)
Regardless of whether or not Farrah and Brian were a legitimate couple prior to her arrival at the house, Farrah and Dr. Jenn had some very genuine therapeutic moments in which Farrah seemed to let her guard down and admit to some serious issues she was having in regards to sex and relationships. A lot of her issues seemed to stem from her childhood and teen years, and as a result, her sessions with Dr. Jenn would later include Farrah’s mom Debra Danielsen as well.
Dr. Jenn reunited with Farrah on screen as she brokered a short-lived peace between Farrah and her Teen Mom OG co-stars Tyler and Catelynn Baltierra on the VH1 Couples Therapy With Dr. Jenn Reunion Special in late 2014. Two years later, Farrah and Dr. Jenn sat down together to talk with cameras rolling again — this time for MTV — as they were joined by Farrah’s boyfriend Simon Saran in an episode from the sixth season of Teen Mom OG.
Fast forward a couple of years and now we have Farrah offering sex and relationship therapy herself! The reality star announced last week that she was offering “private 1-on-1 sex and relationship therapy” to “couples, individuals and even family groups” via the adult streaming website CamSoda for $5,000 per half-hour session. The announcement was quite controversial, and had many people responding with questions about Farrah’s qualifications and her extremely high hourly rate. So, who better to answer those questions than Dr. Jenn herself?
How good of a therapist (sex or relationship) do you think Farrah would be?
People go to graduate school to study psychology for two to four years, do 3,000 hours of clinical work under the supervision of a licensed therapist and then take two very difficult licensing exams to become a therapist. I don’t think that anyone who did not get the education and training for the job is qualified. Let’s be real, what Farrah is doing on a webcam is not therapy. It is entertainment. Millions of people have tuned in to Teen Mom because she is entertaining. I have no doubt that she has some great sex tips and techniques to share, but that is not therapy.
The short time I got to work Farrah on VH1 Couples Therapy with Dr. Jenn barely scratched the surface. I was able to do a follow up session with Farrah on Teen Mom and have always pushed her to continue to do individual therapy to heal the wounds of her past. Farrah is a smart, creative entrepreneurial woman. I have always encouraged her to take on projects that bring out the best in her and allow her to keep her clothes on.
Considering the fact that Farrah has not had the appropriate training and licensing to be a therapist, is offering “therapy” for money something she could get in trouble for — either legally or ethically?
The use of the word “therapy” is not really regulated. There are lots of people who have no background or training in psychology who call themselves a “life coach” and say they provide “therapy.” That said, if you give advice that ends up causing harm, that can make you vulnerable to a law suit.
And last, what are your thoughts on the pricing and the live streaming through an adult cam site?
Real therapy is not performed on adult cam sites. We live in a great country where entrepreneurs can charge whatever they want for their services but I do think that accuracy in describing the service you are really providing is crucial.
I wish Farrah nothing but the best and I hope that moving forward she chooses more affirming projects to attach herself too.
A huge thanks to Dr. Jenn for taking the time to speak with us. I imagine it is quite difficult to work in “celebrity blog interviewee” when the rest of your waking hours are occupied by being a psychotherapist, a columnist, a radio show host, a TV show host, a frequent guest expert for numerous news programs and talk shows, and the author of multiple books including The Relationship Fix: Dr. Jenn’s Guide to Improving Communication, Connection & Intimacy, SuperBaby: 12 Ways to Give Your Child a Head Start In the First 3 Years and The A to Z Guide to Raising Happy Confident Kids. I’m exhausted just writing the list, much less actually doing all of that! ?
You can try to keep up with all that Dr. Jenn is up to via her website, on Dr. Jennstagram, and on Twitter. You can also get weekly sex advice for far less than $5,000 a pop by reading her weekly “Hump Day with Dr. Jenn” column for In Style Magazine!
Asa Hawks is a writer and editor for Starcasm. You can contact Asa via Twitter, Facebook, or email at starcasmtips(at)yahoo.com
