The Power of Platonic Touch: Inside the World of Cuddle Therapy

In this episode, we explore the world of cuddle therapy with Michelle Renee, a San Diego-based Human Connection Coach, Cuddlist, and Director of Training at Cuddlist.com. Together, we unpack what platonic touch looks like in a professional setting, why consent and boundaries are everything, and how this work offers more than comfort; it offers repatterning.From nervous system regulation to post-trauma reconnection, Michelle shares how this misunderstood modality helps people reclaim safe, consensual, body-led touch, and why that matters more than we might think. KEY LEARNINGS FROM THIS EPISODE:Cuddle therapy is a real, structured practice.It’s grounded in mutual consent, verbal agreements, and body-led pacing. It’s not woo, it’s attachment-aware and trauma-informed.Touch supports nervous system regulation.Safe, platonic touch helps shift the body out of chronic fight, flight, or freeze. It sends powerful cues of co-regulation and relational safety.Reclaiming touch is powerful.Many people have experienced touch as harmful, performative, or unsafe. Cuddle therapy offers a space to rewrite that story on your terms.Touch can support safety after trauma.For survivors of assault, neglect, or emotional disconnection, touch can be a powerful way to gently rebuild trust in your body and in others, when offered with care, clarity, and consent.You don’t have to be in crisis to benefit.You might just feel disconnected, over-functioning, or touch-starved. Cuddle work meets you there, no fixing, just presence.Consent is an active practice.Cuddle sessions model real-time consent: asking, checking in, and honoring every no or pause. That alone can be deeply reparative.Spaces like The Human Connection Lab offer low-stakes practice.They create real-world opportunities to practice boundary-setting, emotional presence, and connection in a safe, guided container.Bio: Human Connection Coach | Cuddle Therapist | Director of Training at Cuddlist | Host of The Intimacy LabMichelle Renee is a San Diego-based Human Connection Coach and Professional Cuddle Therapist who has dedicated her life to helping people feel safe, seen, and nurtured through consensual, platonic touch. With a deep understanding of trauma-informed care and nervous system safety, Michelle brings a unique and powerful presence to the world of intimacy, healing, and connection.As Co-Owner and Director of Training at ⁠Cuddlist.com⁠, she not only provides one-on-one sessions but also trains and mentors aspiring practitioners across the globe, guiding them in how to hold consensual, attuned, and healing space for others. Her teaching combines compassion, science-backed principles, and a commitment to honoring each person’s boundaries and agency, especially survivors of sexual violence, for whom safe, trusted touch can be profoundly reparative. Connect with Michelle Renee:Instagram: ⁠@meetmichellerenee⁠BlueSky: ⁠meetmichellerenee.bsky.social⁠Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/cuddlemichellerenee⁠LinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/in/meetmichellerenee⁠YouTube: ⁠@MeetMichelleRenee⁠ Special Offer:Interested in becoming a certified Cuddlist? Get 10% off Cuddlist Certification Training using this referral link:  ⁠Cuddlist Training Discount⁠Subscribe, rate, and leave a review for Everyday Intimacy on your favorite podcast app. Your support helps more people discover these honest, heart-led conversations.

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