What is Cuddle Therapy?
Cuddle therapy, also called professional cuddling or touch therapy, is a type of bodywork that involves sharing two-way platonic touch with a trained professional in a safe and nurturing environment.
Whether it's a gentle hug, holding hands, or simply sitting close, these moments of physical contact can have a profound impact on your mental and emotional health.
Birch Tree Bodywork offers professional cuddling in Austin, TX. Read on to learn more or book a session.
Why Cuddle Therapy?
Physical contact and connection are some of the most basic human needs, yet many of us find ourselves lacking the touch and attention we deserve.
While many forms of bodywork are one-directional, professional cuddling is an opportunity to co-create the therapeutic experience.
The result is something that feels more nurturing, comforting, and intimate than many somatic therapies and offers unique wellness benefits.
Stress RElief
Cuddling and touch therapy have been shown to decrease stress and anxiety, ease muscle tension, improve sleep, and even boost the immune system.
Mood Boosting
Touch releases the “feel good hormones” dopamine and serotonin, as well as oxytocin, which has been linked to trust, empathy and relationship-building.
Healing
Exploring touch with an experienced practitioner can help rewrite old stories around touch and intimacy and help you connect to your body and your needs.
Let’s Get Touchy
Birch Tree Bodywork sessions provide a safe space for individuals to explore their wants and needs around touch. Sessions are tailored to each client and may include cuddling, caressing, hugging, holding, skin brushes, light scratches, tapping, light-to-medium pressure, scalp massage and more.
Introductory Session - 90 minutes
Introductory sessions begin with a short chat about boundaries, session expectations, and client goals. How would you like to feel during the session? What do you want out of it?
This is followed by a touch-based icebreaker exercise which helps build a sense of trust and eases into the cuddle session.
The remainder of the session is client-led with the cuddle therapist supporting the process and offering suggestions.
$200/90 minutes
Cuddle Therapy Session - 60 minutes to 3 hours
Returning clients can book sessions between 1 and 3 hours as single or recurring appointments.
These sessions are customized to meet client goals and needs around touch, and can involve anything from holding hands to back rubs to spooning.
If you have specific curiosities or challenges around touch, these sessions are a great way to explore and work through them.
Recurring appointments: $125/hour
Single appointment: $150/hour
ABOUT BIRCH TREE BODYWORK
ABOUT EMILY
Emily is trained in several healing and relational modalities, including Professional Cuddling, Authentic Relating, Nonviolent Communication, professional listening and improvisational theatre.
She has designed Birch Tree Bodywork practices are designed to create a safe, comfortable and nurturing space for clients to feel held and supported as they navigate life’s challenges and undergo growth and transition.
