You won't find therapist (情感治疗师) Ciro Ortiz working in a room filled with books, a church, or even a hospital. That's because Ortiz is 12 years old, and he offers his emotional advice to everyone—as long as they have a subway pass. Since the end of the year 2016, Ortiz has been doing this at the Bedford L subway station. With the sounds of passing trains, his service lasts five minutes and costs $2.
Ortiz said he decided to offer emotional advice for two hours a week after he was beaten by two bad boys at school. Usually, he uses the money he earns in a week to buy food and snacks for children at his school because they can't afford it.
Ortiz's customers are all kinds of people. Once one married couple asked for his help, with the husband expressing he had trouble with the fact his wife had recently gone vegan.
"I told him his wife didn't get mad at him for eating meat, "Ortiz told the New York Post," She likes to eat what she wants and he likes to eat whatever he wants so they just have to deal with it."
New Yorkers have been grateful for the boy's advice. What a good job he has done!
