I have a very good friend who is a general practitioner MD. We sometimes laugh about the odd similarities between our chosen professions. She has patients and appointments. I have clients and sessions. She is in a position of authority over her patients, typically in a one-on-one interaction. As the mistress, I hold similar powers over my slaves in a similar setting. At times, we both don gloves and internally probe. Each of us has also had amazing, touching experiences of making a real connection (as well as the rare gross-out horror story). Neither of us can work a 40-hour week because what we do is so intense. And for both of us, there is the element of healing and creating balance in what we do.