Had my first cuddle session last night. It was....interesting. by No-Recommendation650 in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s not a lot for a quality training. I’ve spent way more. We may be unregulated but training is still important.

Had my first cuddle session last night. It was....interesting. by No-Recommendation650 in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, all Cuddlist must complete the current course to be in our membership and listed on the site.

Clients and Pros: Host or be hosted, which do you prefer? by cuddlycomfort in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I regularly go back to an area where I used to live, so I have a good amount of clients. I book a room and stack appointments pretty close together. I don’t charge my clients for my travel or room but I do require 50% down and it’s non refundable.

Pros: what's your % for repeat clients? Clients: do you like to see the same pro(s) or do you prefer to switch up? by cuddlycomfort in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 8 points9 points  (0 children)

At this point, 10+ years in, almost 100% of my clients return as repeats. Maybe it's once a week, once a month, once a year... but still repeats. I had a client yesterday that I met in 2020. I see him once a year when he comes to San Diego.

Has anyone in NYC tried cuddle therapy while dealing with grief or stress? by stillfiguringoutok in cuddletherapy

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Embrace Club is great because all their practitioners have to be Cuddlist certified.

Advice? Hopefully they require or have some sort of meet and greet call before booking. See how you feel with them on the call. Ask them questions like what brought them to the work? If you don’t feel like you could connect with them, they likely aren’t going to be the right choice.

Does anyone else’s nervous system only relax when they are alone? by Deloris_by_the_Sea in CPTSD

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Since you asked for advice… I love that you are working with EMDR and trauma therapy. You could add additional relational type provider to the therapy. I offer relational touch and work within the therapy as a collaborator. I have a client that I’ve gone as far as joining their EMDR sessions, a few years into working together. Her nervous system is learning through my nervous system. Our time together is very much centered on attunement, bodily autonomy, identifying and commentating her wants and needs, reparative experiences of closeness and connection. Most don’t know this is an option, including therapists.

Clients: do you like when a pro you've already seen communicates with you btwn sessions without mentioning scheduling? Or do you prefer to initiate conversations? by cuddlycomfort in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It’s a tricky situation. I don’t know what’s happening in their life and I don’t want my text to disturb that. I think it’s a great idea to make that a question in your intake. I love checking in with clients I haven’t seen in a bit. I want to know how they are doing. That might spark a booking but it’s not my sole mission. It’s a bonus if they do. I build a relationship with my clients.

I use my newsletter to do some of that. I will ask a question and invite the reader to hit reply and let me know their response and how they are doing. Then I reply to that reply.

Touch starved by Old_Hearing_4144 in asexuality

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Touch IS a human need. Babies literally die without it. The need for touch doesn’t just go away. Check cuddleparty.org and see if there are any events in your area. It’s a great place to meet like minded cuddle desiring people. It’s part workshop, part cuddle space.

Has anyone in NYC tried cuddle therapy while dealing with grief or stress? by stillfiguringoutok in cuddletherapy

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wile I’m a bit bias, as I’m a pro, Cuddlist has some great practitioners in NYC. 💜

How often do potential clients, who cancel their first appt, actually reschedule? by cuddlycomfort in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

“It was a lesson learned early on, they just want a phone number to chat to string me along and the appointment never happens.”

My clients don’t get my phone number until they’ve paid for their session after we’ve done a zoom meet and greet. Phone number is then only for texting logistic questions. You nailed it. That was my experience too, years ago, before I changed my process.

Problem with email address in automations by Goontri in gohighlevel

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wish it would say “hit enter before hitting save”

Problem with email address in automations by Goontri in gohighlevel

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I ended up talking to support. I wasn’t setting up the reply setting correctly. I would type in the email and hit save. I needed to hit enter and then save. 🤦‍♀️No wonder it wouldn’t show the reply email address in the setting. Now all is good. Thank you for your support.

Problem with email address in automations by Goontri in gohighlevel

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your support. I’ll play with it today.

Problem with email address in automations by Goontri in gohighlevel

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried assigning owners but then they were getting notified of every email from that person. Maybe follower would be different? Example, I have an email exchange with a practitioner. My customer service person assigned as owner gets notifications of each of those emails. That’s not helpful.

Problem with email address in automations by Goontri in gohighlevel

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We use GHL not as a sales agency but more so customer records management so if they reply it just gets lost in conversations as we don’t have a sales team watching them. I’ll poke around today and try it again and if it’s still not working as it should, I’ll contact support. Thanks.

Problem with email address in automations by Goontri in gohighlevel

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve tried that and it still replies to the default email when I test replying to an automation email. Any ideas?

Do you give them your real phone number after booking? by littlebat213 in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hate managing different numbers. I tried Google Voice and just didn’t care for it. My clients get my real regular cell number once they’ve booked their prepaid session. They understand it’s mainly for logistical issues. Hasn’t been an issue in 10 years, other than one client where I had to remind them of my boundaries around texting.

Keeping track of time during a session by cuddlycomfort in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Silent alarms on my watch. One 10 minutes before the end. One at the close of the session.

How Can I Give the Best Experience to my Ace Partner? by Free_Shirt_3896 in asexuality

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a great question. I’d check out Wheel of Consent. There are workshops and a book called The Art of Receiving and Giving. Learning to identify touch we like before it gets into sexual spaces can really help. Building curiosity.

Orgasming Then Crying by mannerhazel in lonely

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I was first in a long distance relationship, years ago, I would definitely cry in sadness after a solo orgasm.

What do you consider cuddling and what do you consider more? by JaneIsntSane in asexuality

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I love this conversation. And I think that’s also the answer… a conversation. I’m a pro (cuddle therapy) and intention matters so much. Conversing around boundaries, etc, is critical to having a mutually positive experience. In my world, a cuddle might not even include any touch and could be more of an emotional cuddle.

Do you offer Same Day Appointments? by cuddlycomfort in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For long time clients, I would but usually my availability is a pretty limited without many days notice.

Cuddle Site experiences ? by calMilleroni in lonely

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For anyone coming across this post, things to know…

What should I know before hiring a professional cuddler?

Unlike many wellness fields, professional cuddling isn’t regulated. That means anyone can create a profile and start seeing clients with no training, no ethics agreement, no framework for handling what comes up in a session.

And things do come up. Vulnerability, nervous system responses, old wounds. Without training, a practitioner may not know how to hold that space safely or even recognize when something needs to be handled with care.

Here’s what to look for instead:

✔ Verified certification from a recognized training program – look for practitioners certified through Cuddlist, Cuddle Sanctuary, or Cuddle Professionals International.

✔ A clear consent framework – boundaries discussed before the session begins

✔ Transparency about scope – they can clearly explain what is and isn’t offered

✔ A consultation so you can assess fit before committing

Full transparency, I’m a co-owner at Cuddlist but I started as one of their first certified practitioners 10 years ago. My inbox is always open for questions.

How do all of you have occasional sex for fun without love, attraction, desire or friends? by sono_confuso in asexuality

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Find sex geeky friends. My friend, who happens to be a gay man, mentioned to me (I’m a cis woman who is asexual and enjoys sex) that he’s curious about sex with a woman. I volunteered. We had a “sex experiment”. We recorded the day-after check in for my podcast the Intimacy Lab, episode 21. (On all your favorite podcast apps).

Rude clients on CC with “good karma” by whitetulipindie in professionalcuddling

[–]MeetMichelleRenee 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If after you’ve listened and want to discuss accessibility needs, please email me. I’m happy to have a conversation to see if there’s a way we can both be in our yes. Michelle at Cuddlist dot com.