A sex therapist is offering Israelis the chance to overcome relationship difficulties with a surrogate partner

Among other services, the Dr Ronit Aloni Clinic practices sex surrogacy, which involves pairing patients with trained sexual partners

Of the clinic’s 200 or so annual patients, around a third engage in direct sexual contact with a surrogate, who is a ‘regular person’ – but with training.

Typically, the patient and surrogate start their relationship with a date in a public place. Once they are ready to move beyond that stage, they meet for a 90-minute session at the Tel Aviv clinic.

The developing contact typically occurs over three to four months – though it can last for years – alongside one-to-one therapy sessions. Patients are then encouraged to pursue their own relationships, while continuing with their therapist.

About half of the patients suffer from sexual disorders, according to Dr Aloni, but nearly all are nervous about intimacy. Backed by the Ministry of Defence, the clinic treats many wounded soldiers, as well as others with physical and mental disabilities. The client base also includes young Charedim struggling to come to terms with their sexuality.

Dr Aloni, 64, brought sex surrogacy to Israel in the late 1980s after studying the treatment in America, where it was developed by gynaecologist William Masters and psychologist Virginia Johnson in the 1950s. She started by treating severely wounded soldiers and in 1999 opened her clinic to the public.

At $2,000 a month, the service does not come cheap, while patients and surrogates must be tested for sexually transmitted diseases and use contraceptives.

One surrogate, who asked not to be identified, said: “Maybe it sounds like a cliché, but I have an ability to love and not be afraid of being compassionate.

“I cuddle the patients in a very, very secure place and let them grow. I don’t like humanity to suffer.”

Dr Aloni added: “It’s not really about sex. I sometimes tell my staff that we’re really an anxiety clinic.”

Idan Milchan, a co-director of the sex therapy clinic at Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital who refers patients to the clinic, said: “The therapists are professional enough to understand if a guy or women has a sexual problem or not, and it’s so expensive that people can find cheaper sex.”