Synonyms: Professional Cuddler, Cuddle Professional, Cuddle Practitioner, Cuddle Companion, Platonic Touch Therapist

Table of Contents

• Quick Facts
• Day in the Life
• Common Characteristics
• How to Become a Cuddle Therapist
• Specialties and Similar Career Paths
• Advice from Keeley

Quick Facts

What cuddle therapists do:

Cuddle therapists provide emotional support and therapeutic touch by cuddling clients in safe, nurturing environments, aiming to improve their mental health and well-being through compassionate, platonic interaction.

Median income:

$63,943 annually or $30.74 per hour. Some therapists can charge a minimum of $80 per hour up to $200 per hour for in-person sessions.

Lifestyle:

A hybrid work setup with virtual and in-person sessions, daily client communication, and screening of new clients. They enjoy a flexible schedule, seeing around 3-4 clients per day, usually in comfortable attire like pajamas or yoga pants. Demand varies throughout the year, with busier times during holidays and summer but more consistent in winter.

Education requirements:

Open to any background, including those without degrees, but trainings and certifications are typically required (see “How to Become a Cuddle Therapist” below).

This is perfect for you if:

• You have a social personality type, enjoying interactions and helping others.
• You are inclined towards “helping” professions, finding fulfillment in nurturing and supporting others.
• Your mission is to promote emotional well-being, reduce loneliness, and foster connections through platonic touch.
• You love providing compassionate support, creating safe spaces, and facilitating meaningful connections with others through touch.

If that sounds like you, definitely watch our interview with Keeley Shoup to learn more about being a Cuddle Therapist here!

Day in the Life

Schedule:

Flexible schedule, typically limiting sessions to a maximum of 6 working hours or around 3-4 clients per day, with a maximum of 5, allowing for a balance between workload and personal well-being.

Setting:

Cozy Airbnb spaces, clients’ homes, offices, or other preferred locations, providing a comfortable environment for sessions.

Tasks:

Cuddle clients to improve relational skills, offer emotional support, and provide platonic affection. They also communicate with existing and new clients, conduct both in-person and virtual sessions, and ensure comfortable, safe environments for their therapy.

Topics:

Boundary setting, trauma-informed care, communication skills, and self-care practices to enhance their practice and support their clients effectively.

Skills:

Interpersonal skills such as active listening, effective communication, and empathy to understand and support clients effectively. Boundary setting, compassion, and sensitivity are also essential for creating a safe and nurturing environment during sessions.

Tools:

Sensory elements such as fidgets, weighted blankets, and plush furniture to enhance comfort between sessions. Additionally, they may use scented candles to create a cozier environment.

Common Characteristics

Natural Talents (strengths):

Empathy, active listening, communication, patience, intuition, and setting boundaries. These are essential for providing effective emotional support and creating a safe environment during sessions.

Interests:

Providing emotional support, fostering connections, and creating nurturing environments through touch, as well as managing client relationships to promote their services and reach more individuals in need.

Personality:

Social, artistic, and enterprising, with qualities of compassion, empathy, creativity, and entrepreneurship, all aimed at their mission to help others in need.

Values:

Compassion, integrity, connection, and safety, prioritizing meaningful relationships with clients and ongoing personal development to improve their practice.

*Terms used to describe interests and personality are based on the Holland Framework.

How to Become a Cuddle Therapist

Education requirements:

Becoming a cuddle therapist doesn’t require a degree and you can explore this career path regardless of your educational background. Nurses, teachers, and individuals with caretaking backgrounds have successfully transitioned into this role. However, certifications from training programs such as Cuddlist, Cuddle Sanctuary, and Cuddle Professionals International are typically required to become a professional cuddler.

Specialties and Similar Career Paths

• Boundaries and Consent Work
• Couples Touch Reintegration
• Emotional Wellness Cuddling
• Intimacy Building Sessions
• Parent-Child Bonding
• Platonic Touch Therapy
• Self-Care and Relaxation Cuddling
• Sensory Integration Therapy
• Symptom Relief from Depression and Anxiety
• Trauma-Informed Cuddling
• Wheel of Consent

Advice from Keeley

Job hunt tips to set yourself apart:

To excel in professional cuddling, continuous learning and exploration are key. Like Keeley, who regularly participates in classes and workshops, consider investing in further education. For example, training at institutes like the Mind and Life Institute or exploring somatic experiences can enhance your skills and advancement in the field.

Fastest way to get your foot in the door:

​​The fastest way to become a professional cuddler is by obtaining certifications through training programs. Keeley suggests enrolling in certification courses and undergoing continuous learning and consultation to excel in the field. While it may take several years to become proficient, acquiring certifications accelerates career advancement and ensures credibility in the profession.

Recommended resources:

If you’re ready to enter this profession, Keeley shares some of her highly recommended resources to help in your journey:

• The Art of Receiving and Giving: The Wheel of Consent by Betty Martin and Robin Dalzen
• Creating Consent Culture: A Handbook for Educators by Erica Scott, Marcia Baczynski
• Touch by Samantha Hesse
• My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
• The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

What Keeley would tell her younger self if she was just getting started:

“I would tell her just how much I was ecstatic that she took the leap, that she’s starting, and that she’s going to have so many wonderful things to look forward to by making this decision. It was scary, and it was hard, but it was absolutely the right choice. And so I would celebrate with her.”

Watch the full interview with Keeley:

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Data on job profiles is based on information supplied by the Occupational Outlook Handbook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, My Next Move from the National Center for O*NET Development, and the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration. Accessed 13 June 2024.

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