PROFESSIONAL CUDDLIST® IN NEW YORK, NEAR NEW JERSEY
Cuddle Therapy
Real human connection is rare and beautiful.
Cuddle therapy allows you to experience intimate connection that is platonic, client-focused, and based in consent and boundaries. Sessions with a professional Cuddlist® provide a supportive healing environment where you’re empowered to find your voice, develop somatic trust in your own body, and communicate your preferences and needs with a loving, trauma-informed human.
Certified as a trauma-informed leadership coach, I understand the potential psychological impact of physical touch on those for whom traumatic experiences remain in the body. Touch, cuddle positions, and the nuanced details of the environment (lighting, temperature, sound, etc.) are entirely your choice—and can be changed at any time for your comfort. This modality can also help to reduce stress and anxiety through the body’s natural release of oxytocin.
Sessions are 1 hour ($125), 1.5 hours ($175), 2 hours ($225), 3 hours ($325) or 4 hours ($425) at my location in New York, near New Jersey.
Out-calls are available, and additional travel expenses vary depending on location.
Why Cuddle Therapy?
PROFESSIONAL CUDDLIST® IN NEW YORK
Cuddle Therapy
Real human connection is rare and beautiful.
Cuddle therapy allows you to experience intimate connection that is platonic, client-focused, and based in consent and boundaries. Sessions with a professional Cuddlist® provide a supportive healing environment where you’re empowered to find your voice, develop somatic trust in your own body, and communicate your preferences and needs with a loving, trauma-informed human.
Certified as a trauma-informed leadership coach, I understand the potential psychological impact of physical touch on those for whom traumatic experiences remain in the body. Touch, cuddle positions, and the nuanced details of the environment (lighting, temperature, sound, etc.) are entirely your choice—and can be changed at any time for your comfort. This modality can also help to reduce stress and anxiety through the body’s natural release of oxytocin.
Sessions are 1 hour ($125), 1.5 hours ($175), 2 hours ($225), 3 hours ($325) or 4 hours ($425) at my location in New York, near New Jersey. Out-calls are available, and additional travel expenses vary depending on location.
Hi, I’m Kelly (they/them)
I believe that every person deserves love, compassion, respect, and belonging. As a queer human (genderfluid / non-binary, pansexual, polyamorous), I welcome clients of all genders, races, sexual identities, ages, body types, physical abilities, and relational constellations.
My role as a cuddle therapist is to provide a supportive growth environment, to empower you to practice consent and boundary-setting, and to offer platonic intimate connection. I often work with clients who have experienced significant trauma in their lives. (I was made for deep, deep work; ask me about my natal chart.)
I’m a Trauma-Informed Leadership Coach and Gender Advocate with TACT. In 2021, I founded Consciousness Leaders, a speaker’s agency to amplify the voices of women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, the disabled, and military veterans. Since 2023, I have been a Reiki Master, Certified Cuddlist®, and facilitator of healing retreats. I’m currently training to become a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner and Sacred Intimate.
My book, Heal to Lead: Revolutionizing Leadership through Trauma Healing (2024, Wiley) supports my vision—for more than half of humanity to heal its childhood trauma, so that we may reimagine and rebuild the world together.
What Cuddle Therapy Clients Say…
“Thank you for introducing me to cuddle therapy. It has had such a positive impact so far, a soothing balm for my soul… My life has been legit easier since I met you. People are portals.”
Marija J.
“It was so empowering to voice my wants and needs, to feel them honored, and to practice navigating yes and no within my body. [Cuddle therapy] brought me closer to myself, emotionally and physically, in a way that’s hard to put into words but deeply felt.”
Nevine S.
“I would strongly recommend [cuddle therapy] to anyone looking to take that next step into a more liberated and authentic relationship to self and others.”
Aminta S.
Cuddlist® Code of Conduct
1. Client and Practitioner both verify that they are at least the legal age of consent in their location.
2. Client and Practitioner both agree to be free from any mind-altering substances during the sessions and are thereby fully able to give consent.
3. Client agrees to fully disclose any diagnoses or conditions that may affect their cuddling session to the Practitioner.
4. Client and Practitioner both agree to practice consent and attention to personal boundaries at all times.
5. Client and Practitioner will communicate to find what is mutually comfortable throughout each cuddling session. This applies to all communication prior to and after sessions as well.
6. This is a strictly platonic service. Client and Practitioner both agree to not pursue or encourage sexual arousal. Also:
- Minimum clothing of tank top and shorts that cover the top half of the thigh and are suitable to be worn in public for both Client and Practitioner at all times.
- No hand to genital or breast contact. No intentional genital stimulation of any kind.
- No exchanging of saliva, or any other bodily fluid, in any way.
7. Client and Practitioner both agree to respectful personal hygiene.
8. Client confidentiality is to be respected at all times.
9. Either Client or Practitioner may end the session at any time.
10. All feedback is valued and confidential. Client and Practitioner agree to let Cuddlist.com know if either party does not uphold this code of conduct during a Cuddlist session through our feedback form.
I’m Here to Answer Your Questions
Who is cuddle therapy for?
Cuddle therapy is for anyone seeking platonic, intimate connection. This can include, but is not limited to those who have experienced:
• loneliness, isolation or touch deprivation
• physical abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect
• social anxiety or chronic stress
• difficulty forming connections
• a desire for a supportive space to receive non-sexual physical affection
How much does it cost?
Sessions cost $125 for 1 hour, $175 for 1.5 hours, $225 for 2 hours, $325 for 3 hours, or $425 for 4 hours at my location.
Out-calls are available, and additional travel expenses vary depending on your location.
What are the benefits of cuddle therapy?
Platonic touch has been found to boost self-esteem and confidence, curb stress, anxiety and depression, and even boost immunity through the release of three hormones: oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine.
Touch is a powerful tool in our wellbeing—impacting everything from lower blood pressure and pain reduction to improved sleep and beyond.
If you have a particular health question or concern, please remember to discuss this with me when we talk.
What should I expect in a session?
Please wear loose or comfortable clothing, and have a water bottle with you. I typically have tissues with me should emotions arise during our time together.
You can expect professionalism from the beginning to the end of your platonic touch therapy session.
We’ll revisit the code of conduct (see below) and talk about what you’d like from the session. We can explore an initial position that would feel good to you and adjust as often as needed.
Cuddle positions and nuanced details about the environment (i.e. lighting, temperature, music, pillows, blankets, etc.) are entirely your choice and can be changed at any time. I will clearly communicate my own boundaries so you never have to worry about my comfort, and I will trust you to do the same.
I set a timer that will gently sound 10 minutes prior to the end of our session so that we can transition slowly out of the cuddle container. Once our cuddle session has concluded, we’ll talk briefly about your experience and what we might do or try differently during a subsequent visit, if applicable.
What happens if I experience arousal?
Arousal is a natural, physiological response of the human body, characterized by increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened bodily activity.
While we will not pursue or encourage sexual arousal, there is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about should arousal occur during a session. We simply name it and collaborate on how you’d like to proceed with the session or pause. Everything is just a conversation.
Can I see the entire code of conduct?
Cuddlist® Code of Conduct
1. Client and Practitioner both verify that they are at least the legal age of consent in their location.
2. Client and Practitioner both agree to be free from any mind-altering substances during the sessions and are thereby fully able to give consent.
3. Client agrees to fully disclose any diagnoses or conditions that may affect their cuddling session to the Practitioner.
4. Client and Practitioner both agree to practice consent and attention to personal boundaries at all times.
5. Client and Practitioner will communicate to find what is mutually comfortable throughout each cuddling session. This applies to all communication prior to and after sessions as well.
6. This is a strictly platonic service. Client and Practitioner both agree to not pursue or encourage sexual arousal. Also:
- Minimum clothing of tank top and shorts that cover the top half of the thigh and are suitable to be worn in public for both Client and Practitioner at all times.
- No hand to genital or breast contact. No intentional genital stimulation of any kind.
- No exchanging of saliva, or any other bodily fluid, in any way.
7. Client and Practitioner both agree to respectful personal hygiene.
8. Client confidentiality is to be respected at all times.
9. Either Client or Practitioner may end the session at any time.
10. All feedback is valued and confidential. Client and Practitioner agree to let Cuddlist.com know if either party does not uphold this code of conduct during a Cuddlist session through our feedback form.
How can I gift a session to someone?
If you would like to gift a cuddle therapy session (or series of sessions) to a friend or loved one, please contact me. I will need to schedule a 1:1 Zoom call with the recipient prior to booking.
And thank you for being a kind and generous human!
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