why men?

As a man, I recognize that men (self-identified) face unique issues in our day-to-day lives, including the often painful and impossible ideals of masculinity; that is, being "man enough." We are taught to be stoic, to do what is expected of us, and to ignore any negative feelings we may have. Men, regardless of race, class, background, religion, sexual orientation, or anything else, often have a hard time expressing our feelings, sometimes even to ourselves. 

As a young child, I learned that it was appropriate to cuddle with or otherwise experience physical touch with women in my life (my mom, for example), but that touch with other men should be brief, or avoided entirely. Maybe you had a similar experience. Certainly, it's an issue common in societies across the globe, and not at all specific to you or I. 

As we grow older, we may not immediately notice the complete lack of platonic touch in our lives, because we do experience touch; but only in a romantic or sexual context. We may deal with this imbalance by having increasing amounts of casual sexual encounters or even by serial dating. There is nothing wrong with these practices, but you'll find that they are only partially satisfying: you still aren't addressing the issue of a complete lack of platonic human contact in your life. 

Living in a culture that demands that men avoid platonic physical contact with one another encourages isolation. It's no secret that men struggle with their mental health, largely privately, because of this. The CDC says that in 2022 men were four times more likely than women to end their own lives. How can we begin to address this chronic isolation? 

That's where cuddling comes in. 

It's my hope that someday we dismantle the patriarchal gender roles that prevent men from cuddling up with a friend and watching a movie or embracing a friend to express a strong emotion, but I realize that for many of us, that may feel unattainable right now. That doesn't mean we shouldn't try: let's start small!

In the privacy of your room, we can cuddle. We can exist together and connect with each other and experience the platonic human contact you may be missing. That experience will be unique to you, to address the specific issues you may be facing. It's my goal to not only provide the human touch you need, but to help you become more comfortable with the concept itself. 

Education and Training

• Free Consent Workshop - completed November 2024 - via Certified Cuddlers

• Professional Cuddler Certification Program Beta - completed December 2024- via Certified Cuddlers

  • Course is no longer monitored and certification is not offered. It is left available as an educational opportunity.