With great pride that we introduce you to our Certified Cuddle Event Leaders. (To learn how to lead events in your community, check out our free weekly webinar or Leadership Guide for Cuddle Events.)
Australia
Victoria
Melbourne, Victoria
Tash (she/her) is compassionate and empathetic. Knowing the importance of touch in child development, she extended her knowledge of the importance of touch for adults, and explored ways to bring more platonic touch into her life and the lives of others via cuddle therapy. Tash brings space holding skills from years working as a child life specialist, group facilitator and holistic counsellor. Tash creates a safe and nurturing atmosphere where touch needs and preferences are able to be communicated. Tash is a cuddle event leader with listings on lifespirals.com.au.
USA
California
Anaheim, California
Grace Heer (she/her) is compassionate and empathetic, making her the ideal person to provide comfort for those experiencing loneliness, disconnection, or simply needing the healing energy of human touch. As a certified coach, Grace has years of experience working with individuals and is especially in tune with those healing from emotional trauma and grief. As both a coach and a professional cuddler, Grace helps people with her nurturing and supportive approach.
Big Bear and Long Beach, California
Gina Woodruff (she/her) creates and facilitates Cuddle Retreats and Special Occasion Parties in Big Bear and Long Beach, California. For 33 years, she has been the CEO Founder of Supported Living and Community services. Gina is also an event host with 13 years of experience co-creating parties, art events and entertainment. She is a Cuddle Sanctuary Certified Facilitator and Professional Cuddler. Gina collaborates with event organizers to design day or overnight events in Long Beach or retreats in Big Bear of up to ten days. To contact Gina about an event, text (562) 519-1614 and click the link below to send an email.
Los Angeles, California
Zap (any pronouns) felt welcomed at their first cuddle even after they decided to touch no one the entire time. After that, they decided they found the methodology to expand their boundaries and sense of self. Zap decided they wanted to create cuddle events wherever they went, and is proudly certified with Cuddle Sanctuary. Now Zap loves touch, and they are a Black, asexual, and genderqueer 🏳️⚧️ individual who is happy to make events available for queer, POC, disabled, low-income, neurodivergent, and/or genderqueer folx.
Los Angeles, California
CJ (she/her) trained with Cuddle Sanctuary after experiencing many cuddle events and getting excited about the positive impact it had on her life. CJ is a certified life and sex coach who works with people who want to move past sexual shame and into more pleasure. She believes that platonic cuddle experiences can be helpful in determining what you want or don’t want and also establishing boundaries. CJ is available in Santa Monica, California for professional cuddling and coaching services. Learn more about CJ’s services here!
Los Angeles, California
Jean Franzblau – AKA Cuddle Queen Jean – (she/her) is the Founder of Cuddle Sanctuary which has hosted hundreds of cuddle events since 2014. She gives presentations to universities to teach students about boundaries and consent. Jean studied facilitation with Cuddle Party and the Association of Talent Development. She trained with Dr. Betty Martin who teaches the Wheel of Consent and appeared as a cuddle expert on Dr. Phil, BuzzFeed, Keeping Up the Kardashians, The Bachelorette and Rolling Stone. She graduated cum laude from UCLA with a BA in Communications. With a passion for sharing her knowledge, Jean created the Leadership Guide for Cuddle Events. For college bookings, Jean is represented by Kirkland Productions.
Pasadena, California
Mare (she/her) celebrates the primal nature of touch: It’s the first sense that we experience and the first to soothe us when we are feeling unbalanced. Mare brings her Pagan roots to the healing art of touch and is an Intuitive and a Reiki healer. Mare serves the San Gabriel valley of Los Angeles as a certified Cuddle Sanctuary Event Leader. She is also a professional cuddler. In Mare’s practice, all are welcome – accessibility is the key component for all her events. She is a warm and friendly person who has genuine love for people. Find out all about Mare at Pasadena Healing Touch.
Florida
Gainesville, Florida
After a 12-year career in marketing and event planning, Angela (she/her) quit her full-time job in 2014 to attend the Florida School of Massage in Gainesville, Florida. Giving and receiving compassionate touch nearly every day was nothing short of life-changing for her. Having experienced the physical, mental, and emotional health benefits of massage therapy, she became increasingly aware of the need for more compassionate touch in our culture and became a Certified Cuddle Event Leader. She now offers Cacao & Cuddles which combines drinking a warm mug of heart-opening, ceremonial cacao (the foundation of chocolate!) with Cuddle Sanctuary’s beautifully structured format. Angela believes that everyone deserves to experience the healing power of touch and is honored to be your guide.
Terms and Conditions
This listing of cuddle event leaders is provided as a service to the public, and lists individuals who are certified with Cuddle Sanctuary. Cuddle Sanctuary does not monitor their work during or after certification, nor require continuing education to maintain certification. Certification does not imply legal endorsement by Cuddle Sanctuary of the practitioner.
Cuddle Sanctuary does not offer psychotherapy. The practitioners listed here are not physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed social workers, or licensed marriage and family therapists, and do not offer psychotherapy or medical advice.
All of the individuals listed here are responsible for adhering to the laws of their state with regard to the practice of psychotherapy, medicine, counseling, social work, bodywork, or other regulated profession, including education, licensing, and use of titles.
Jean Franzblau, LLC DBA Cuddle Sanctuary does not warrant or otherwise assume responsibility for the services provided by these practitioners, or his/her/their competency to provide such services; and may not be held liable for any claim resulting from the use of this listing, or for the activities of any individuals who are trained or certified by Cuddle Sanctuary or students or graduates in our trainings. While representatives of Cuddle Sanctuary may make a recommendation of a practitioner, the individual using this listing assumes sole responsibility for determining whether a practitioner is appropriate for their needs.