One of our most fundamental biological needs is to be cuddled.
It improves one’s quality of life by reducing tension and anxiety and relieving pain and stress.
Since we live in a high-stress world, it’s no wonder folks get paid to cuddle.
Mental health specialists consider cuddling a form of professional therapy worth the expense.
You can employ professional cuddlers trained in platonic therapeutic interactions if you suffer from anxiety or depression.
In exchange for money, a professional cuddler shares intimacy with their client in a nonsexual manner to alleviate these stresses.
Several companies hire and train folks who want to work as professional cuddlers.
You might be someone who enjoys cuddling strangers, hugging them, holding their hands, or simply hanging out with them.
If so, becoming a professional cuddler could be a great career choice for you.
Professional cuddling may appear to be an absurd thing to pay for.
However, it is quietly picking up steam worldwide in the United States.
The rationale for this developing labor field makes much more sense than you might think.
So what does it take to work as a professional cuddler, and what does this work entail?
These questions are explored below.
What Does Cuddling Entail?
So what does it mean to be a cuddler?
Cuddling includes hugging, touching, massaging, and caressing another individual in a chaste, nonsexual way.
Sometimes, customers will want to vent and get things off their chests.
So, you must be willing to listen and empathize with them.
Unless you’re a psychologist, refrain from giving any expert advice.
It’s critical to remember that being paid to cuddle doesn’t make you a mental health specialist.
Depending on the arrangement, you will meet the customer in an agreed-upon location or at their house.
If you work for a company, then they will be involved in scheduling.
If that’s all the client wants, you’re free to sit on a couch, chat, or watch a movie.
Sometimes, all they need is for another human being to be around.
When meeting with a stranger alone, safety should always be top of mind for everyone.
That is why it is preferable to work with a well-established business that already has safety protocols in place.
Companies will also thoroughly vet their clients for their employees.
Another safety concern is arousal.
If you or your client becomes stimulated, you should try different cuddling positions to reduce stimulation.
It isn’t supposed to be embarrassing; it’s just a natural physiological response.
However, you do not want your client to feel exploited, and you do not want your client to exploit you.
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Why Would Someone Pay To Cuddle With You?
Scientists and psychologists alike have long advocated for the benefits of human interaction, most notably touching.
Personal spaces are becoming broader in today’s culture, and closeness is becoming more scarce.
Especially with the pandemic, folks are getting used to being separated.
Although online relationships are stronger than ever, the human touch is missing from the mix.
As a result, many people are experiencing the negative impacts of touch deprivation, such as stress-related health issues, depression, anxiety, and even PTSD.
The benefits of cuddling also encompass physical health issues like high blood pressure and chronic pain.
Those in the cuddling game are all too aware of this.
They witness the beneficial impact their unique job can have on their clients’ life.
Cuddling isn’t technically a taboo subject, but it’s also not something that’s brought up nonchalantly in public or at work.
You only do it with your spouse or partner when you want to show or receive affection.
Cuddling advocates are working hard to change this perception.
They try to promote cuddling to connect with another person through friendly, nonsexual touch.
On the other hand, clients still carry this stigma and prefer to keep their dealings private.
However, a growing number of folks are discovering the benefits of snuggling.
It’s especially popular among those who find casual platonic touch, even a handshake, difficult or even impossible.
The Best Companies That Hire Cuddlers
Cuddle Comfort
Cuddle Comfort, which was established in 2011, is a reputable professional cuddling service.
You can register on the website for free if you are at least 18 years old.
You have control over your pay rate.
On the other hand, this particular cuddling business has set the minimum wage at $40 per hour.
The site takes a 15% commission from female employees.
This means that the minimum wage here is $34 per hour.
But that is the absolute minimum.
The majority of cuddlers charge much more, often $80-$100 per hour.
Men are charged a monthly membership fee in addition to the commission.
Certified Cuddlers
Certified Cuddlers is a great place to advertise your professional cuddling services.
If you’re a complete beginner, the company also provides an online course and a hands-on training course.
After finishing the program, you get a certificate and are allowed to list your services on the site.
You can specify your own fee, which can be anything from $60-$150.
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Cuddle Companion
Another platform for professional cuddle therapists is Cuddle Companion.
After registering, you can offer your services on the website by building an informative and honest profile.
You have the ability to set your own rates and service offerings.
The company allows services that aren’t limited to cuddling.
You can also play the roles of tour guide, pretend girlfriend, travel companion, masseuse, and event companion.
Should you get paid to travel, the client will shoulder all your travel expenses.
Each booking pays you 60%-85% as a professional cuddler.
The remainder is paid to the business as commissions.
The company pays members in cash, a Paypal deposit, or any other acceptable means of payment after each finished cuddle session.
Cuddlist
Cuddlist was founded in late 2015 and now has a membership of over 200 certified cuddlers.
The company provides platonic cuddling services in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
To work for the organization as a professional cuddler, you must be at least 18 years old.
Plus, you must finish a paid online training program.
You then subscribe for a membership with the company, which costs a monthly fee, in order to earn cuddling employment.
You can also get certification and advanced training from the company to help you become a professional cuddler.
The company provides you with a safe space on their website once you have become a member.
You’ll have your own website where you can display your personality and describe your sessions.
You can personally get inquiries from potential clients who want to snuggle up with you.
You have complete control over your pricing.
However, a certified cuddlist has to charge at least $60 per hour.
The average hourly rate is $80.
Addressing the Negative Connotation of Getting Paid To Cuddle
This new movement is not without its challenges, particularly for those who don’t grasp what it’s all about.
As you learn more about this profession, you’ll discover that cuddling, like meditation, yoga, and mindfulness, can be a healing experience.
It can even do wonders for immune systems.
We typically assume that touching another person must lead to something sexual in today’s society.
That’s why it can be awkward to consider snuggling a stranger as a possible source of revenue.
However, companies like Cuddle Comfort and Cuddlist are slowly changing that mindset.
In reality, when done in a courteous and emotionally secure manner, professional therapeutic contact through cuddling is healing and transformational.
Getting paid to cuddle is nothing to be embarrassed about, even if it may appear odd to your friends or family.
Consider the following scenario:
Those in need of a hug must rely on those in their immediate vicinity.
This can lead to miscommunications and a lot of tension.
Finding someone who is already acquainted with the concept and understands correct boundaries is a lot better and safer alternative.
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Final Thoughts
Cuddlers who work professionally must be sympathetic, kind, understanding, and jovial.
In essence, they’re providing a type of touch therapy.
Cuddle therapy has been shown to help with various health and personal difficulties.
It ultimately comes down to human relationships and bonds.
That is precisely what cuddling entails.
It’s a rewarding job to work as a professional cuddler.
Cuddling jobs are cropping up all across the country, especially in metropolitan areas, even if you’ve never heard of them.
It’s not an outlandish thought that physical contact has become a precious commodity.
