I spent six months posing as a medium on a phone hotline, charging people by the minute for insights into their love lives. I'd been struggling to find purpose after quitting my job as an editor and writer due to writer's block and a desire to start a family.
After applying to work from home, claiming a "rigorous" application process was required, I found myself performing my first psychic interview with a man who asked if I had fast wifi. The contract was signed without any trial calls or verification of skill. I bought the tarot cards at age 12 and had no actual experience.
The first call lasted less than a minute and involved a man talking about his job dissatisfaction. He apologized for calling but didn't seem interested in my psychic insights, so he hung up before I could finish speaking. It was clear that the industry was geared towards providing cheap emotional support rather than genuine supernatural guidance.
As time went on, more people called, many of whom were just seeking someone to talk to. The pay was minimal – 20p a minute or £1.50 for every hour worked if you didn't hang up early – and the "for entertainment purposes only" disclaimer was in place from day one. I did manage to build rapport with my clients, though.
A woman called multiple times each week to discuss her struggles in relationships. She seemed desperate for connection but was also afraid of getting too close due to past heartbreaks. Another caller spent hours talking about their home renovation plans and how a psychic would be able to advise on the perfect wallpaper design. It became clear that people just needed someone to listen.
The most common questions were "Is my ex thinking about me?" or "Is my boyfriend cheating?" Most callers knew the answers already but just wanted someone to validate their feelings.
At first, I didn't feel guilty about posing as a psychic; in fact, it was therapeutic for both of us. However, as more and more clients called seeking advice on serious issues like anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts, my guilt began to grow. It became clear that not all callers were looking for supernatural guidance.
As the weeks went by, I started feeling an emotional resonance with these people. It was intense, almost telepathic. My responses often felt overly empathetic and encouraging, which put me in a difficult spot since I wasn't actually providing any magical insight.
One call stood out – a woman who'd recently tried for years to get pregnant called from her car, anxious about whether she would conceive that month. Her voice was calm but urgent, and my response only reassured her of hope rather than concrete results. We chatted briefly after the call, and I felt an unsettling sense of connection.
A few months into the job, I decided it was time to quit. It wasn't the supernatural aspect that convinced me; it was feeling too deeply invested in these people's lives. Before I left, I waited for a client to call again so I could bid her farewell. She'd moved away and had a new boyfriend, and we chatted about nothing but made an effort to say goodbye.
Looking back on the experience, I can see that I was providing a unique service – emotional validation without supernatural backing. It wasn't a con; it just required me to be empathetic and genuine.
After applying to work from home, claiming a "rigorous" application process was required, I found myself performing my first psychic interview with a man who asked if I had fast wifi. The contract was signed without any trial calls or verification of skill. I bought the tarot cards at age 12 and had no actual experience.
The first call lasted less than a minute and involved a man talking about his job dissatisfaction. He apologized for calling but didn't seem interested in my psychic insights, so he hung up before I could finish speaking. It was clear that the industry was geared towards providing cheap emotional support rather than genuine supernatural guidance.
As time went on, more people called, many of whom were just seeking someone to talk to. The pay was minimal – 20p a minute or £1.50 for every hour worked if you didn't hang up early – and the "for entertainment purposes only" disclaimer was in place from day one. I did manage to build rapport with my clients, though.
A woman called multiple times each week to discuss her struggles in relationships. She seemed desperate for connection but was also afraid of getting too close due to past heartbreaks. Another caller spent hours talking about their home renovation plans and how a psychic would be able to advise on the perfect wallpaper design. It became clear that people just needed someone to listen.
The most common questions were "Is my ex thinking about me?" or "Is my boyfriend cheating?" Most callers knew the answers already but just wanted someone to validate their feelings.
At first, I didn't feel guilty about posing as a psychic; in fact, it was therapeutic for both of us. However, as more and more clients called seeking advice on serious issues like anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts, my guilt began to grow. It became clear that not all callers were looking for supernatural guidance.
As the weeks went by, I started feeling an emotional resonance with these people. It was intense, almost telepathic. My responses often felt overly empathetic and encouraging, which put me in a difficult spot since I wasn't actually providing any magical insight.
One call stood out – a woman who'd recently tried for years to get pregnant called from her car, anxious about whether she would conceive that month. Her voice was calm but urgent, and my response only reassured her of hope rather than concrete results. We chatted briefly after the call, and I felt an unsettling sense of connection.
A few months into the job, I decided it was time to quit. It wasn't the supernatural aspect that convinced me; it was feeling too deeply invested in these people's lives. Before I left, I waited for a client to call again so I could bid her farewell. She'd moved away and had a new boyfriend, and we chatted about nothing but made an effort to say goodbye.
Looking back on the experience, I can see that I was providing a unique service – emotional validation without supernatural backing. It wasn't a con; it just required me to be empathetic and genuine.
they were basically selling themselves as a psychic but had no idea what they were doing and were just winging it the whole time. i mean, who does that?!? it's crazy how they went from being desperate for purpose to feeling too invested in people's lives after just a few months.
I can see why it felt therapeutic for both of you, but also super draining when people called with serious issues. It's like they needed someone to acknowledge their struggles without offering any actual solutions 
The most important thing is that you recognized your own emotional resonance with the callers and knew it was time to step away 
Your experience might not be supernatural, but it's still a powerful reminder of the importance of human connection and empathy 
That's like me selling my "expert" opinion as a life coach online for like 5 bucks an hour 
, but really I'm just winging it and making stuff up as I go along 
. People are just looking for someone to talk to, you know? And let's be real, who hasn't Googled "will I get the job?" or "is my boyfriend into me?" like 12 times already 
. But hey, at least you got paid and could pay off those bills...and maybe even saved up for a family of your own 
!
been there done that kinda thing happened to me in my previous job too 
but i think what resonates with me is the part where you said people are just looking for someone to listen 
20p a minute sounds super low and yeah, ppl do wanna validate their feelings 
but what about the ones who need actual help? 
anyway, glad u spoke out about ur experience 
I totally feel u!!! I've been there too with my fave brand's online chat support team 
they just wanna listen & be all supportive but sometimes u feel like u r making a difference in ppl's lives 
even if its just being a good listener 
. The thing is, ppl just need someone to talk 2 especially when they're feeling down or struggling w/ something 
. I did that w/ my brand's customer support team once & it was literally the highlight of my day 
. I felt like I was making an impact even if its just on a small scale 
. And omg, the tarot cards thing sounds soooo cool 
! I wanna be a psychic too when I grow up lol 
. People are willing to pay good money to talk to someone who will listen, validate their emotions, and offer words of encouragement – essentially, a therapist without the qualifications or a safe space. It's a testament to how emotional labor has become commodified 
.