ABOUT
About you
What brings you here?
If you're browsing this site, you probably already understand what a difference healthy touch can make to our physical and mental health.
But maybe...
- you're isolated
- the people around you aren't into hugs and cuddles
- or they are - but you're not sure how to bring it up
- or you've had difficult experiences around touch - even traumatic ones - and you want to revisit platonic touch in a safe, nurturing context
My services are for people in all these situations, whatever their confidence level, race or ethnicity, gender, age, (dis)ability, sexual orientation, size or appearance.
Each session gives you the chance to connect deeply to a fellow human being, at your own pace and in a safe way. We can share lots of platonic touch, if you choose. We can also talk about ways you can adjust your experiences of touch in everyday life, by setting boundaries and making requests.
I provide a safe framework for the session, and you lead it.
Whatever your present relationship with touch, I look forward to getting to know more about you.
About the sessions
How do we get started?
First, I'll ask you how you are and what you're looking for in the session.
Then we'll make an agreement to respect each other's boundaries and communicate honestly.
These are skills that can take time to build, and touch therapy sessions are a great way to practise.
This means that everything that happens in the session should feel comfortable and manageable for both of us - and if it doesn't, we speak up as soon as we realise, and we change things around!
The idea is for you to feel safe and grounded, and free to invite the kinds of platonic touch and connection that feel best to you.
Then what happens?
There are lots of platonic touch options for you to choose from. These include hand-holding, sitting side by side or back to back, hugging, cuddling, cradling, spooning, and pretty much anything else platonic that we're both comfortable with on the day.
(For details of some limits on what we can do, please see the code of conduct.)
We can chat, put on some music or share friendly silence - whatever you prefer.
Also, you might choose to spend some or all of your session talking through any barriers you face to experiencing platonic touch, and ways to access more touch in your everyday life (or in future sessions with me).
Touch, and talking about touch, can sometimes release emotion, especially if it's been a while. So please know that laughing and crying in a cuddle session are both fine!
Bring your true self - that's who I want to meet.
About me
I started this work after experiencing trauma and touch deprivation myself. So I know how it feels to go without safe, joyful platonic touch, and to find my way back to it.
I’ve trained in platonic touch therapy with the UK and US bodies. The learning never stops, though, because there are as many ways to experience a cuddle session as there are people who book.
In the past I’ve also trained in essential counselling skills, nonviolent communication and ecopsychology.
My interests include community activism, improv, creative writing and being in nature. Here's me on a Welsh beach, having a different kind of touch experience in some very cold water!
