New Vice TV Documentary, “Phone Sex Therapy” featuring Dr. Susan Block generates Great Love & Virulent Hate
Dr. Susan Marilyn Block, a.k.a. “Dr. Suzy”—her remarkable life, pro-bonobo world and “controversial” sex therapy system, clients and techniques—is the subject of the new Vice TV documentary, “Dr. Suzy’s Controversial Phone Sex Therapy.” The piece premiered in August, 2023, shot past 100,000 views within its first week and is edging towards 200,000.
“The practice of sex therapy is changing,” says Dr. Susan Block about her groundbreaking approach. “30 years ago, when I was just starting to conduct therapy sessions over the phone, no one else was doing it, and some of my colleagues were appalled. Gradually, they realized it’s safer, more convenient, intimate, private, better for the environment and available to anyone with a phone worldwide, and started doing it themselves. Nowadays, tele-therapy or phone therapy and phone sex therapy are as common as in-person sessions. However, my unique brand of therapy allows clients to talk about ANYTHING. We are not the ‘thought police,’ and we believe in the value of talking about what’s on your mind with someone who can help you handle it. Most find this unconventional approach liberating and effective, but some—like Vice—see it as ‘controversial’.”
With unfettered access, Vice TV ventured deep inside the Dr. Susan Block Institute for the Erotic Arts & Sciences and Dr. Suzy’s Speakeasy in Bonoboville. Filmmakers documented two days in the life of Dr. Suzy, her husband Max and their merry band of bonoboësque collaborators and volunteers. Vice even takes viewers into the lives and homes of real phone sex therapy clients of the Institute who discuss how phone sex therapy has helped them.
Dr. Suzy’s playful, mindful techniques come to life in the invisible, intimate and often very healing realms of the telephone, as well as in the extended “capitalist socialist” community she calls “Bonoboville,” which exists in virtual reality as well as regular reality.
Part of the “Vice Guide to Sex” series, the episode climaxes with a bacchanalian “Bonoboville Reunion” of artists, kinksters, actors, comedians, political activists, friends and lovers in the “Womb Room” sanctuary of the “Irreverend” Dr. Susan Block’s very special “Church” of the Bonobo Way in the “Eco Village” of Bonoboville centered around her philosophy of peace through pleasure, female empowerment, male well-being, ecosexuality, friendliness, inclusivity and sharing resources.
Though the Vice piece touches upon Block’s philosophy, it focuses on the “controversies” as well as the erotic action, packing into the 17-and-a-half-minute piece much nude cavorting, while just managing to stay within YouTube’s vague but unforgiving “community guidelines.”
Taboo body parts are revealed but concealed by a whitish film. “If you squint, it looks like the editors must have ejaculated all over everyone’s nipples and genitals, and some butt crack, depending on the angle,” quips Block. “It’s funny because the Vice cameramen really focused on the nudity in Bonoboville, almost like they were trying to shoot porn, only to hand the footage over to editors who then censored it in this eerie, dehumanizing but still provocative way. It’s digital ejaculation censorship. They do seem to love that white stuff. It’s all over a painting of Marilyn Monroe, her breasts and even her face.”
Was it worth it?
“It’s a great honor and privilege to be the focus of a Vice TV documentary, reaching their huge viewership of millions,” says Block. “Their spin, however, is pretty salacious, suspicious and a little sanctimonious. After all, they call themselves ‘Vice,” and present my work as a kind of ‘vice.’ They’re more sex-positive than most major media, but with a dash of disapproval. And it’s not just the sex. Much of our art is censored, as is our politics. They also keep changing the title, making it sleazier with each alteration. I’ve complained to the producer, but he says there’s nothing I can do, as all the Vice marketing team is looking for are ‘views’… and not getting sued.”
Besides garnering over 180,000 views, the new Vice documentary has inspired hundreds of passionate comments, ranging from great praise, support, tributes and testimonials to thundering rage, outrage, disgust, condemnation, denigration, slut-shaming, elder abuse, misogyny, thought-policing, prayer-reciting and even violent threats.
The ongoing, name-calling debate between lovers and haters of Dr. Suzy’s “controversial” phone sex therapy, kink-positive Bonoboville community and Bonobo Way philosophy is a sign of the times, elucidating a views-driven cultural divide in America and around the world that questions the very nature of sexual health and mental well-being.
Bonoboville Reunion guests include Daniele Watts (aka DaLove), Chef Belive, Amor Hilton, Sally Mullins, Man-Pet, Shannon Coronado, Mistress Mina Nietsche de Sade, Nova, Kacy T-Girl, Onyx Muse, Rhiannon Aarons, Coralyn Jewel, Erikka Rijks, Ikkor the Wolf, Luzer Twersky, Abby Martin, Mike Prysner, Stan Kent, Cyn Yen, and John Barrymore.
Other segments show flashbacks of Dr. Suzy’s shows with Too $hort, Dr. Christopher Ryan, Nancy Friday and Dave Bautista.
Susan M Block, Ph.D., aka “Dr. Suzy,” is an internationally renowned sexologist best-known for her groundbreaking HBO specials. She has hosted The Dr. Susan Block Show for almost 35 years, and is the best-selling author of The Bonobo Way: The Evolution of Peace through Pleasure. A magna cum laude Yale graduate, Counterpunch columnist, DomCon and AASECT lecturer, and champion of sex education, bonobo conservation and freedom of speech, recently featured in Vice TV’s Sex Before the Internet, interviewed on Abby Martin’s Dosed and nominated for the “Most Popular Sex Educator” Urban X Award, Dr. Block hosts F.D.R. Radio every Saturday night with her husband of 31 years, publisher and producer Maximillian Lobkowicz di Filangieri. She’s also been featured on NPR, Oprah, Health, The Doctors, and many others. But she’ll never quit her “day job” as director and chief therapist with the Dr. Susan Block Institute, helping couples, singles and groups to explore, enjoy, take responsibility for and live their best sexual lives.
“I just hope that, despite—or because of—its flaws, this Vice piece inspires some viewers to check out our own shows and books and join us in Bonoboville, as well as encouraging people who need help to call the Institute for private therapy whenever they need to talk.”
For information or to arrange an interview with Dr. Susan Block, email drsusanblock@gmail.com or call (626) 461-5950.
Dr. Suzy’s Vice TV Documentary
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Robert G
09 · 9 · 23 @ 7:29 pm
Dr Suzy is awesome!! She helps people & educates and makes you think & laugh & she is kind fun & exciting!!!
Saren GMG
09 · 9 · 23 @ 4:27 pm
OMG! Watched the incredible ViceTV piece about Dr. Susan Block – she’s a total rockstar educator! Her message is so important, and I think everyone needs to hear it! Let’s make sure she comes back to YouTube and spreads her wisdom and love ❤️ everywhere!
Bud Seriously
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:31 pm
Just watched the inspiring ViceTV piece on Dr. Susan Block – a passionate educator! Her message deserves wider attention! Let’s bring her back to spread knowledge and positivity!
Martie D. Klien
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:30 pm
The Vice piece is very cool as far as it goes. But Dr. Block’s phone sex therapy techniques are too deep for the shallow MSM. I’m not ashamed to admit that I know from experience how deep her phone sex therapy can be.
Truck Stop Burrito
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:28 pm
Even though it doesn’t do You justice, the fact that Vice TV did a whole documentary on You just shows the power of Your message, Your therapy and Your Bonoboville community.
I just wish I could kiss Your peep-toe high heels while You spank me with Your finger-flogger.
Missy Wilde
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:27 pm
I love the Vice piece, even though it’s the cheap version of the #sapiosexual Dr. Suzy – the magic comes across. And getting in there with the lovers & haters (especially the religious freaks!) in the comments section is a trip! Hope you like my comments!
Dalton Jack
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:27 pm
Dr. Block’s Vice piece is GREAT because of her and the other Bonobo-Villagers. It’s annoying how Vice whips up controversy for “views.” Brilliant analysis of their operations, and kudos for getting across the vital message of The Bonobo Way, good phone sex therapy & sexual healing anyway.
Max
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:25 pm
Brava Dr. Suzy & All of Bonoboville!
Amy Amethyst
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:24 pm
Best Vice TV piece ever!
Raelina West
09 · 9 · 23 @ 3:23 pm
Despite Vice’s desperation for views, this is an excellent video. The comments section is like its own show. A war of words between the sane sex-positives who love Dr. Suzy and the kooky neo-Puritans who are boiling over with hate for her. Something tells me that’s the “engagement” Vice wants.
Lynn Frields
09 · 9 · 23 @ 2:25 pm
I noticed that Dr. Suzy’s ViceTV interview has over 180,000 views, wow! The slides look great, what a unique look of the studio she’s in, and love seeing all those slides on my phone. That looked like a fun show!
Stan Kent
09 · 8 · 23 @ 11:36 pm
Nothing finer than to give into Vice and enjoy Dr. Suzy in her finest showing us why she gives the best sex adVice on VICE.
GasMaskGirl
09 · 8 · 23 @ 11:33 pm
If you haven’t watched the Vice documentary featuring Dr. Susan Block, you’re truly missing out. Despite YouTube banning her, she remains far from silenced, and the irony lies in the fact that you can still view the piece about her on YouTube through Vice’s platform.
Harry
09 · 8 · 23 @ 6:10 pm
The VICE piece highlights a disturbing trend in this country and the West at large. We are fast forgetting what freedom and liberty means and what is required for us to live in a free society. It is vital that people have a safe space to talk, to think, to feel, and to get help. Max and Dr. Suzy built a place where so many people can get the help and treatment they deserve and yet, too many are quick to grab pitchforks and torches and burn people at the stake simply for “thinking” so-called bad thoughts.
Thank heavens for Max and Dr. Suzy. Keep fighting the good fight and providing a much needed oasis and sanctuary for people seeking help.
Bae
09 · 8 · 23 @ 12:55 am
I found the documentary and this article about on your “controversial” phone sex therapy to be incredibly thought-provoking and important. The documentary and this article added depth to the discussion, and it’s clear that there’s much to consider.
While phone sex therapy has undoubtedly made mental health services more accessible, it’s vital to address the concerns raised in the documentary to ensure the best possible care for everyone involved.
Bob Gryszka
09 · 7 · 23 @ 10:06 pm
Personally I feel Dr Suzy should get an Emmy award