Dear Peggy, Joel, and Phil,

It is the therapist's lot in life to frequently be compared to a prostitute. As more than one patient has told me, "You are just like a whore--I pay you to care." Last night's episode of The Sopranos took it up a notch. Therapist as madam. When Tony gave Jennifer a bonus for the good week, she was getting her cut for setting him up (unconsciously, of course) with Gloria. The therapy session with Gloria revealed another new development. We learn that she attempted suicide after her last boyfriend jilted her. So ... the DSM-IV diagnosis changes from Slutola Not Otherwise Specified (301.99) to Borderline Personality Disorder (301.83). And poor Tony is falling so head over heels in love with her that he can't even control himself in public in the presence of a 25-foot Burmese python. Are we seeing a foreshadowing of Fatal Attraction? Will we see a bunny on the Barbie? I found it particularly interesting that Jennifer, who continues to shine in her histrionic countertransference displays, ventilates to her son that she hates her patients while not apparently owning any responsibility for inadvertently arranging their liaison. Message to Jennifer: Call Elliot for an extra appointment.

Glen