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Exotic Dancer Support Group
Hi Girls, I am a counselor and life coach as well as a former dancer in the South Florida area. I believe it important to have a positive support system around us, particularly in our line of business which is very difficult both emotionally, psychologically, financially, and physically. The aim of this support group is not to challenge and change who we are or what we do but rather create an environment that is understanding, non judgmental, and caring to not only benefit our professional life but our personal one as well. It is a way to discuss the various challenges that we face both in and out of the workplace. For more information please visit Batcavecounselor.com or email me at [email protected] . Thanks and wish you all the best of luck.
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This is exactly what SW is.. But thank you :)
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yes this website is very beneficial but does have some drawbacks. It does not allow for face-to-face interactions in a group setting nor is able to provide a facilitator in the form of a counselor. The responses are from personal experiences not from a research and/or clinical one. Though the website is helpful to many people its lacks the structure that occurs in a professional group setting that cannot occur online and informal way. Additionally there is a draw back on confidentiality which cannot be guaranteed. But overall the website, i believe is necessary but unfortunately is not sufficient enough. Hope i was able to clarify the additional benefits of attending a support group and/or individual counseling.
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While you might have a good idea, the fact is you are new and not known and people aren't going to consider going to a counseling group like this. I'm sure you charge too which just opens up another can of worms.
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Hi Kelly, I would have to disagree with you on the lack of interest in regards to the support group. I have received significant amount of requests and feedback in participating in the group. As this is a business i do charge as does any other counselor. I know many dancers (me being one of them) that has been to therapy which has been helpful to a certain extent. One disadvantage being that the counselor did not understand my occupation and did not realize how much it really influenced who i was/am as a person. There is a stigma that is still quite evident associated with being an exotic dancer which is difficult to overcome (I'm sure you can relate), even in counseling. I am unsure of what you mean about being "new" and why it would effect anyone wanting to participate in a support group. Thanks for your feedback. It is much appreciated and i am always open to it.
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I appreciate your want to help. Yet, like others have mentioned bc we do not know you, we may be initially apprehensive of you. No harm meant. Although you are highly educated coming at us in technical terms may be a like off-putting. You have the whole spectrum of dancers here. Every girl is different here and is coming from a different background--it is highly diversified here. All different walks of life as far as dancers go here. Maybe you could find a more appealing approach. Perhaps you could offer some help free of charge to introduce your capacity to help.
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Thank you for your post Shift. I appreciate your comment and suggestion. I completely agree with you in that I am new and certainly there is some apprehension. I also agree in that every girl is different and has been through her own unique experiences, hence my comment above regarding the responses on this site are not research or clinically based but rather from their own "personal experiences". I pride myself in being sensitive to diverse cultures and its' importance in treatment particularly being born and raised in a different country. As far as the fees, i do have a sliding scale and payments discussed as everything else, is on an individual bases and confidential. Thanks again for your post
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I've always wished there was some sort of "sex workers support" group, but in a more informal way. Like just a group that would go out for coffee or have weekly meetings somewhere to talk amongst themselves - sorta like SW but in person so you could connect with people face-to-face who know what you're going through, even if you don't really talk about work. I don't know if I'd be all that into a "group therapy" sort of thing... it just seems a little too formal and "let's confess our feelings, applaud, and hug" sort of thing, but you don't really talk about anything other than work, whereas I would love to have more stripper friends but not necessarily talk about work all the time that I spend with them... Not that there's anything wrong with that circle group format, but in discussing my sex worker life, I wouldn't want to do it that way. This is an interesting idea though.
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Additionally, I would like to say that I in no way want to take away from this group. Like i expressed earlier i think it is very beneficial to our community. My intentions are purely therapeutic and believe that there is no type of counseling (as far as i am aware please let me know if i am wrong) that focuses on our occupation. My only goal is to bring awareness and potentially help anyone that is seeking it from a clinically and research based perspective.
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Hi Aurora, the support group that i have created does not necessarily mean that it needs to be emotionally driven, though many of them are especially once everyone begins to feel comfortable with one another. Many girls i have worked with (myself included) had past traumas that were never completely resolved. Being in the strip club industry, like i mentioned earlier stigmatized me. Though i was able to talk about certain things with the girls i befriended i was not able to confide in them. It was nice having someone that understood what i was going through day to day in my job, but a lot more difficult confiding serious issues with them due to many factors including but not limited to not being liked, embarrassment, betrayal, etc. The support group that i have created provides both. It is a place where you can discuss your current experiences with friends, family, work, etc. as well as what is going on for you emotionally and psychologically. Not all support groups are like A.A. or N.A. To me it is important to be flexible and allow the group to dictate what they need from me and from their peers. Thanks for the post. Its really great hearing everyone's feedback.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by
shift_6x
Maybe you could find a more appealing approach. Perhaps you could offer some help free of charge to introduce your capacity to help.
Like maybe give some input into some of the discussions on here, Don't want to speak for Shift_6x but I think that might be what she meant.
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I actually think it's a great idea. There are many dancers who have had trauma from dancing, or trauma aggravated by dancing.
I know Ive had both. Although I LOVE stripping it certainly has left it's mark on my Psyche and body.
Problem is we know nothing about YOU, batcavecounselor. So of course we're gonna be a bit suspicious.
However, I would love to have a therapist who knows about the industry and is nonjudgemental. All the one's I've had have been judgemental.
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Re: Exotic Dancer Support Group
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Susan-Va
Like maybe give some input into some of the discussions on here, Don't want to speak for Shift_6x but I think that might be what she meant.
Most communities ask that you give before you take..
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^Thank you guys for ur reinforcement. :) This is overall a good idea. But soliciting services from people who do not know the OP is going to be a mostly unbeneficial situation. Many of us have been hit hard with the crappy economy and are not going to be so inclined to fork over money for therapy. Even if is is catered to helping dancers and/or people in this business. True we have to deal with the stupid social stigma attached to the job, but we can also blend in with the real world when we want to as well. We aren't 'crippled' or falling apart, or unable to function just as regular people. Sometimes the empathy can be insulting.
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Thank you for your post papillonluvr. It is very helpful for me to read that there are people out there that would benefit from the service that i am providing and completely understand the apprehension and suspicion that is associated with be a "newbie" to this site. It can at times be difficult to have an idea that you hope can be helpful to others and hear negative feedback but i know it important to be open to constructive criticism. And since this something that has never been done before (tailoring counseling to the exotic dancer community) i expect some opposition as well as support and having been receiving both. Shift, i would like to point out a few things. I am not sure that what i am doing is soliciting anyone. My intention is not to "entice", "lure", nor "urge" anyone into participating in my support group. I am merely describing the service that i am providing and why i believe it is beneficial. Additionally i never said nor do i feel as though dancers are as you say "crippled", "falling apart", or "unable to function just as regular people" and i apologize for the misunderstanding if that is how you feel. Just as people that seek counseling for various difficulties such as family, couples, academic, career, anxiety, eating, etc. are not any worst than the rest of the population. I do not believe in the term "normal" and "abnormal" and do not ever use it. As i stated many times my intention is only to bring awareness and support for our community and provide counseling that is tailored to our population which has never been done before. I in no way, shape, or form want to offend anyone on this site and instead truly respect all of your opinions and suggestions. Thanks again
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Re: Exotic Dancer Support Group
Quote:
Originally Posted by
batcavecounselor
Thank you for your post papillonluvr. It is very helpful for me to read that there are people out there that would benefit from the service that i am providing and completely understand the apprehension and suspicion that is associated with be a "newbie" to this site. It can at times be difficult to have an idea that you hope can be helpful to others and hear negative feedback but i know it important to be open to constructive criticism. And since this something that has never been done before (tailoring counseling to the exotic dancer community) i expect some opposition as well as support and having been receiving both. Shift, i would like to point out a few things. I am not sure that what i am doing is soliciting anyone. My intention is not to "entice", "lure", nor "urge" anyone into participating in my support group. I am merely describing the service that i am providing and why i believe it is beneficial. Additionally i never said nor do i feel as though dancers are as you say "crippled", "falling apart", or "unable to function just as regular people" and i apologize for the misunderstanding if that is how you feel. Just as people that seek counseling for various difficulties such as family, couples, academic, career, anxiety, eating, etc. are not any worst than the rest of the population. I do not believe in the term "normal" and "abnormal" and do not ever use it. As i stated many times my intention is only to bring awareness and support for our community and provide counseling that is tailored to our population which has never been done before. I in no way, shape, or form want to offend anyone on this site and instead truly respect all of your opinions and suggestions. Thanks again
I have actually praised you and I do not consider myself as giving you negative feedback. I am simply stating the reality of where some of us on SW, not all , some may be coming from. You wanted ideas, opinions etc..You wanted a response. You have gotten several. I praised you bc everyone in some way shape or form can benefit from counseling. You just have to find a way to mold the ideas you may have into something that works. ANd IMHO, you have to look at what youre asking from different angles. Hey, if people like the idea, then thats great bc ur reaching people on this site and elsewhere who could benefit from counseling. I still think you should offer some kind of introductory help free of charge so members of this site if they r truly interested can see how u would run your typical session first before they committed themselves to the unknown. Just my 2 cents. If you really wanted to help people then you have to come across generous and genuine or you are going to have your skeptics. That is just life.
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batcavecounselor, there is a section called customer conversation & that is where your services could be used best. There are many in there that have fantasies in there head & could use some professional help. Start with the lepers...
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I think she has a good idea, but I don't think she approached/pitched it the right way.
I know I've read several threads where girls were asking if anyone knew stripper-friendly therapists. And now one shows up and we jump all over her?
Again, good idea bad introduction.
If I read her op it sounds like she is saying she's out there, is it a good idea, and if you're interested she's there.
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Re: Exotic Dancer Support Group
Quote:
Originally Posted by
papillonluvr
I think she has a good idea, but I don't think she approached/pitched it the right way.
I know I've read several threads where girls were asking if anyone knew stripper-friendly therapists. And now one shows up and we jump all over her?
Again, good idea bad introduction.
If I read her op it sounds like she is saying she's out there, is it a good idea, and if you're interested she's there.
Maybe your right. All I saw was a poorly pitched sale. The business name didn't inspire any confidence either.
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Yeah I don't really like the name much either. Bat cave.... it's a bit odd lol
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I agree with the ladies who proposed to see some quality posts from Bat Cave Counselor. This may inspire some confidence among strippers on abilities of the counselor.
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I agree with some of the others, it comes off as sounding too pushy, and making stripper-web seem like it has no meaning to us. Personally I think there is a lot of great advice on this forum, and looking at your prices I saved $125 for the hour....
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I feel that one of the advantages of SW is that we DO NOT have face-to-face contact. Thats one of the best parts of SW. Yea, some psycho could stalk u on SW, but a psycho could stalk u anywhere. I like that we all really dont know each other well here. That makes the whole experience more comfortable...And most of the time we all get along here besides the occasional screaming match, but thats bound to happen in life anyways..people bc we all see things differently, are bound to disagree at times.