489: Cuddle Therapy with Michelle Renee

Jul 14, 2025

This week, Michelle Renee, a human connection coach and co-owner of Cuddlist.com, dives into the world of cuddle therapy. She discusses the vital role of consent and boundaries in fostering emotional connections through platonic touch. Michelle highlights how cuddle therapy can aid those with trauma, encouraging personal growth and trust. She shares insights on the emotional dynamics of vulnerability in cuddling and the importance of creating a safe space for healing. Listeners are invited to explore their own needs for connection and touch.

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INSIGHT

Essence of Platonic Cuddle Therapy

Platonic cuddle therapy offers a safe way for people to experience touch, connection, and co-regulation, helping address loneliness and emotional needs.
The work emphasizes clear boundaries, client-led communication, and honoring authentic consent for mutually beneficial connection.

INSIGHT

Touch as Two-Way Communication

Touch builds trust rapidly and creates a unique two-way language unlike typical massage or platonic touch.
Receiving and giving touch shifts traditional gender roles and enables people to practice basic human connection skills.

ADVICE

Practice Consent and Validate Preferences

Practice asking for permission with each change in touch during sessions to build social cue awareness.
Respect and validate clients' preferences without judgment when they express discomfort or dislike of specific touch.

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Welcome back to `Therapy Chat! This week, I interviewed Michelle Renee of Cuddlist about cuddle therapy. Michelle and I discussed what cuddle therapy is, what it can do and who can benefit from it. Our conversation brought up many thoughts about loneliness, platonic touch, consent, boundaries, attachment and much more.

Michelle Renee (she/her) is a human connection coach based in San Diego, California, dedicated to helping individuals overcome challenges related to emotional and physical connection. As a Cuddlist certified relational-based touch practitioner, she offers platonic nurturing touch in a safe and supportive environment, and she works collaboratively with licensed talk therapists to help clients address deeper issues surrounding trust, vulnerability, and connection. Michelle is deeply passionate about supporting individuals with a history of trauma, guiding them toward building safety within themselves and their relationships. In addition to her coaching and therapy work, Michelle is the Co-Owner and Director of Training for Cuddlist.com.

Visit Michelle’s website at:

https://humanconnectioncoach.com

Learn more about Cuddlist at: www.cuddlist.com

Get a 10% discount on Cuddlist training at:

https://cuddlist.podia.com/cuddlist-certification/6dnxo?coupon=REFERRAL

Therapists, visit the new For Therapists page on the Trauma Therapist Network website for discounts on training, recommended resources and more.

Curious about SSP after listening to the most recent episodes of Therapy Chat? On behalf of our friends at Unyte Health, we are pleased to share this Trauma Recovery Toolkit, a free resource aimed to support you as you work with clients who present with trauma and nervous system dysregulation. Download the toolkit and access an exclusive discount code for the SSP training! More new episodes about SSP are coming this summer!

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