\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Keeley Shoup, 33, is a full-time professional cuddler from Chicago, Illinois. When Jean Franzblau, the founder of Cuddle Sanctuary in Los Angeles, first heard of a contagious virus spreading across the globe in March, she set stringent policies for all participants: wash your hands the moment you arrive to a cuddle; dont come if you feel ill; if a client appears sick or is coughing, a cuddle session leader may send them home. Ive never experienced this before, he told me. It healed and changed my relationship with my entire family. To fend off patrons seeking more explicit services, Shoup extensively screens any prospective customers beforehand, seeking out their needs and wants. All massage buddies are 100% real and verified! "It was surreal. Madline is thrilled to have found her calling in bringing comfort to people, and helping them feel loved, seen, understood and genuinely respected. Keeley Shoup has been running her own cuddle therapy private practice in Chicago for more than six years. Keep in mind that if you work for a larger company, the company may take a cut of your commission to pay the taxes and fees of your employment. If you are ready to have relief poured into you, click the link below to request a session with Tee, now. Come treat yourself and explore some of Susans favorite cuddle positions including Gummy Bear and the Koala. Availability: Everyday except Tuesday and Saturday. Copyright 2020 Cuddlist. [3] These certified individuals provide therapeutic support through hugs, spooning, and gentle massage. Please review the cuddler's profile for more details on their preferences. Professional cuddlers are amazing human beings who bring warmth and caring to every session. Someone is going to get hurt, Hess said. Session Types Offered: Inbound/Outbound for those who cannot navigate stairs. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Cuddlers can do multiple cuddling sessions per day. You can also find us in Mexico, Belgium, India and Tanzania. Chicago Cuddle Therapy, Chicago, Illinois. Location: Atlanta metro area or your location. Someone was crying while a stranger hugged them. Keeley has been a professional cuddler since 2015. You may want to become a professional cuddler because you love giving hugs, but you need to be able to put the clients needs above your own during a session. Would you like to connect with someone in a simple and sincere way, without complications? As for Cameron's approach, if a client insinuates they want sex, he just shifts the conversation elsewhere. Alys writing has been nationally recognized in the Sigma Tau Delta Rectangle and featured in Blue Marble Review, The Sunshine Review, PopMatters, and Cathartic Literary Magazine. Cuddle Sanctuary does not offer psychotherapy. They love working with people of all backgrounds but are especially passionate about working with those who are neurodiverse and/or in the LGBTQ+ community. He, too, found out about professional cuddling through Google, and as someone who had suffered from depression and chronic pain, he told IBTimes, he was inspired to provide therapeutic touch to people who need it. Being a nurturer also includes being a giver. Like us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/TheSunUSand follow us from our main Twitter account at@TheSunUS, Seven passengers rushed to hospital after 'severe turbulence' on flight, Gabby Petito's family claim cop knew Laundrie was threat in lawsuit update, Jury inspect eerie Murdaugh murder scene where mom & son were executed, US Navy faces being totally outgunned by China in just seven years, says expert, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Keeley Shoup, 33, is a full-time professional cuddler from Chicago, Illinois, She cuddles, comforts and spoons her customers to help combat symptoms of depression, loneliness and anxiety, Shoup's services are entirely platonic, non-sexual and clients must remain fully clothed at all times, Hugging can release hormones into the body that keeps feelings of loneliness at bay, Shoup has been a professional cuddler for almost eight years. Or if you already know what youd like to experience, we can design the session as a team. Keeley Shoup, 33, is a full-time professional cuddler from Chicago, Illinois. They will do the same. Cuddle therapists are specifically trained in the art and science of cuddling to create a trusting and equal space for clients. Write a waiver even if you work with a bigger company. Allowing sessions to only run for a set amount of time, Scheduling a specific number of sessions a day, Cuddling with loved ones on your time off. She also has a location tracker on her phone. As a, Andi was drawn to professional cuddling after working as a nursing assistant. That request required Shoup to create a space for the client to get in touch with a younger part of themselves. She is a healing justice and trauma-informed Pleasure Strategist and Life & Relationship Coach, who organizes come as you are cuddling spaces that promote connection, nurturing, and relaxation, holding space for you to choose pleasure, live in the moment, and be your authentic self. "I'm not a therapist," he said. Madline is a cuddle therapist, certified with both Nordic Cuddle London and Cuddle Sanctuary. A WOMAN who charges up to $200 per hour to cuddle clients craving a human touch has lifted the lid on some of the strangest requests she's received since embracing the unusual career path seven years ago. I Became A Professional Cuddler loveliveserve 310K views Old People Are Evil! Source. A successful professional cuddler will grow her clientele and develop repeat business. Each professional cuddler is just as unique as our clients. Cuddle therapists encourage clients to say yes to touches they want and no to touches they dont want. Calling such special requests one of her favorite things about her line of work, over the years they have varied from the endearing to the downright strange. Build self esteem Theres a better way. And although her boyfriend sometimes gets jealous, he supports her decision to be a professional cuddler. Grace has a myriad of tools to connect with you and help you connect with yourself. Location: North Hollywood, CA and Chicago, IL. "We give access to platonic touch, but that doesnt mean its mandated or expected. Outdoor options are also available.). They bring their training, integrity, professionalism and clear communication skills to every session. Course length varies depending on the company youre training with. You get to decide just how much touch (if any) you want in a session. Meet amazing cuddle companions near you and around the world today with Cuddle Companions! You can read our Code of Ethics here. Yes, it's driving school, but I need to get my license back. Professional cuddlers are amazing human beings who bring warmth and caring to every session. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Madline is the ideal cuddler for those experiencing loneliness, depression, and anxiety, and is always happy to adapt to specific needs and disabilities. If you share a hobby with a cuddler, you have a great ice breaker for your first meeting. In a session with Trevor, you will be treating yourself to total relaxation, nurturing, and connection with a present soul who holds space for you to just be with no expectations and no judgments. Any time Im with someone, I say, this is someone who needs compassion right now," said Kilbride. And she knows it's "100 percent platonic," he said. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Kilbride's boss, Evan Carp, started The Snuggle Buddies in 2013. My Name Is Keeley Shoup and I am a professional Cuddler! Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. She often remarks on how lucky she feels to have found her lifes purpose; bringing unconditional love and validation through platonic touch to anyone who needs it. First popularized in the early 2000s, professional cuddling aimed to fulfill touch needs for a range of clients including survivors of post-traumatic stress disorder and sexual assault and adults on the autistic spectrum. I am gifted at holding space for people during their emotional processes and providing comfort through touch. They bring their training, integrity, professionalism and clear communication skills to every session. Sign up and stay up to date with our daily newsletter. Explaining that last rule, Shoup said: "The reason why we word it that way is because kissing can be a subjective experience. , Availability: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday. If you are seeking a press appearance you can find my press kit by going to INFO then Affiliate Services. My broader ambition for the professional cuddling industry is to foster an interdisciplinary community of practitioners, to increase the standard of quality represented within the modality, and to improve accessibility to resources for practitioners. Are you looking for a powerful outlet to channel the positivity, affection and strength you have to share? She has been cuddling professionally since 2018, and is also a Certified Cuddle Event Leader. There are safety procedures and screeners.. Tees focus is on providing an experience to people, who are in need of a little comfort, through therapeutic touch, that is free of judgment and shame, so you can feel like you are recognized and recharged, feeling the freedom to face whatever tomorrow brings, knowing you have been supported in the way you need. When asked what's behind the recent boom in business, Shoup responded: "I think what's happening is that people have become so acutely aware of what isolation can do when it's prolonged. Please review the cuddler's profile for more details on their preferences. Some are sexual- and physical-abuse survivors, Hess said, referred to her by local counselors. Grace is compassionate, empathetic and an ideal cuddler for those experiencing loneliness, disconnection, or the need for human touch. Is it regulated and safe for participants? If you share a hobby with a cuddler, you have a great ice breaker for your first meeting. Its really about making people feel more comfortable in their bodies and giving them a sense of physical and emotional ease and relaxation. "It also helps to create a kinder world, a more consent-aware world, and a world filled with more empathy.". As Hunter S. Thompson once said, When the going gets weird, the weird go pro., In person, New York City-based Scott Cameron, who also works for The Snuggle Buddies, has movie-star good looks, a friendly smile, and an earnest -- if wary -- demeanor. Massage buddies are professional licensed massage therapists offering their own unique services to treat and help clients. Things are worked out. Maybe I'm a horrible. According to Shoup, hugs increase the production of the love hormone oxytocin, which is known to help keep feelings of loneliness at bay. Although Kilbride doesn't use mace, she does have safety measures in place. Cuddling makes us feel very safe and close. Increase trust and self reliance If you are looking for a place to completely relax, let go, soak in some love, and explore how blissfully healing touch can be, youve found it. Like Kilbride, he wanted to supplement his bartending and catering income, and less than six months ago, he found a help wanted ad for a professional snuggler. 432 likes. Part of a global network of cuddlers, 36-year-old Pragya* Pandya was always an empathetic shoulder for friends to cry on. You are going to be categorically disappointed when you get here because this will not change and you'll have wasted time and money.'. "It has become a shared experience, so its no longer weird to talk about feeling isolated - its no longer a measure of you or your skills at being social. A session may include anything from meditation, massage, or guided stretching to dancing, singing karaoke or spooning while watching your favorite movie. They may get 5 to 15 hours of work a month, Evan Carp, the business' 27-year-old founder, said. When you request a session with Tee, you are scheduling with a trauma-informed, open-minded, wise, incredibly warm, and nurturing professional, whose goal is to leave you feeling restored, grounded, seen, validated, unconditionally loved, secure, satisfied, and empowered. Get Paid to be Pampered. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The brave new world of professional cuddling is largely unregulated, or at least haphazardly self-regulated, with few real safety standards in place. Questions about my services and cuddle therapy in general are always welcome. Cuddler. More recently, Shoup said she has been working with a client who was seeking "age regression work", requesting to live out their sessions as if they were a child. Parents kiss their children all the time and that's completely platonic. Weve got you. To achieve that, Shoup filled her studio with stuffed animals, colored in a coloring book with the client, and played a series of child-like games. Nordic Cuddle therapy would you pay 65 to hug a stranger? She is a healing justice and trauma-informed Pleasure Strategist and Life & Relationship Coach, who organizes come as you are cuddling spaces that promote connection, nurturing, and relaxation, holding space for you to choose pleasure, live in the moment, and be your authentic self. Certification does not imply legal endorsement by Cuddle Sanctuary of the practitioner. "I'm not talking about people who wear adult diapers or anything like that," she laughed. There are two elements that must be in place: expertise on behalf of the professional and the willingness to try something new on behalf of the client, Franzblau said. Initially, Franzblau was staunchly against the notion of a virtual cuddle. She is thrilled that she came across Cuddle Sanctuary during the pandemic and learned more in a virtual setting. Go for Dinner. Perhaps now I can safely declare that I cuddle for cash. I have taken every training and certification course offered in this field. Her favorite ways to cuddle up are Gummy Bear, Tetris, and especially Lap of Luxury, gently comforting and caressing you. After self-quarantining alone for over a month in New York City, actor and writer Randy Wade Kelley noticed he, like many others, craved human connection. His mission is to ensure mens wellness through touch, connection, companionship and community. "There isn't anything wrong with seeking out [sexual] services. As a Professional Cuddler she embodies the word presence and offers you the experience of being welcomed and accepted just as you are. Or if they suggest we do something more, I'll remind them that prostitution is illegal in New York City, so that I'm not in the position to say, 'I don't want to f--- you.'" Or email support@cuddlesanctuary.com. We just either ignore it or, if its distracting, change the position. In this call your professional cuddler can learn more about you and you can ask any questions you have. Every cuddler has exciting hobbies such as video games, reading, sightseeing, hiking, etc.. Or maybe, he added, They dont want to swipe on Tinder anymore.. Touch deprivation is linked to anxiety, depression, aggression, stress, violent behavior, impulsiveness, low job performance, poor relational skills, and so on. He broke down crying when we first snuggled together. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Describing the experience as profound and overwhelming, Shoup said she cried for the majority of the four-hour event and said it helped her to come to the realization that she was in an abusive relationship. I was more relaxed than Id ever been in my life. First you sign an agreement about the services. A session might include practices such as meditative time, self-soothing, and laughter. We cant actually cuddle but its some sort of connection.. Professional Cuddling | Chicago Cuddle Therapy | United States "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.' Leo F. Buscaglia ABOUT ME ABOUT ME The qualified cuddle therapist said she forayed into the world of professional hugging sometime in late 2014, a few months after she - somewhat reluctantly - attended a "cuddle party" event for the first time with a friend. I hope you let me share all I have to offer with you. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. The point of those exercises was to help make feelings of anger and aggression feel more accessible to them, she explained. If you are in Tanzania and need human connection, she welcomes you to request an in-person session. For both cuddler and client alike, nothing quite compares to the real thing. She is a consent and boundary advocate and has been a cuddle enthusiast since 2012. Speaking to The US Sun from Los Angeles, Shoup revealed she had plans to set up a new cuddle studio on the West Coast, in addition to the one she has in Chicago. We just recommend that you shift positions and move your attention to bring the experience back to platonic. She is non-judgmental and unconditionally loving. A WOMAN who charges up to $200 per hour to cuddle clients craving a human touch has lifted the lid on some of the strangest requests she's received since embracing the unusual career path seven years ago. Its OK as long as youre expecting it not to taste like lasagne.. Go for a Walk. "In those calls, we have a really frank conversation about it, where we lay out the rules and a client can then decide whether or not this is what they want," Shoup said. She has over ten years of experience in creative, academic, and professional writing. While representatives of Cuddle Sanctuary may make a recommendation of a practitioner, the individual using this listing assumes sole responsibility for determining whether a practitioner is appropriate for their needs. A 'professional cuddler', who has clients queueing up to pay 75 for an hour-long hug, has opened up about the benefits of cuddle therapy. "Most of the time people appreciate the bluntness of it all, and I try to approach that conversation without stigma or judgment. Ready for 60 minutes of you time? Book a Professional Cuddler in Chicago today Our professional cuddlers are kind, caring and understanding people that can host or come to you for $80 per hour. Success! And once I had kind of absorbed all the information that I possibly could, I was like, 'I want to do this for the rest of my life. Consent is integral and sessions are always fully clothed, no sexual touching allowed. Much like yoga,meditation, and mindfulness, professionaltherapeutictouch through cuddling is healing and transformative when it happens in a respectful and emotionally safe way. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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