Andre responded to my ad seeking someone who was both interested in trying a professional cuddling session and willing to have the experience recorded on camera. He’s a man who has survived a lot in his life both serving our country and with childhood trauma. 

If you’d like to watch the video right away, just skip to the bottom of this blog.

As a professional cuddler it’s my responsibility to be a trauma aware professional. That includes being informed of the ways that trauma can impact a human being emotionally and physically. It’s a large topic; I’ll share two things that I’ve learned. 

Emotions

Dr. Melissa Withers’ Psychology Today article about providing services for those with trauma mentions stoicism. A person behaving in a stoic way endures hardship without showing feelings and without complaining. Withers explains that it’s “…often tied to a victim’s…attempt to cope with trauma through detachment.” Though some clients may express deep feelings during a session, it’s my job to release expectations about that and not be surprised if a client with a history of trauma is stoic.

Hormones

Another client of mine who has been diagnosed with complex PTSD explained to me that when she attended cuddle events, she was aware of how relaxed and happy people began to feel due to the famed and coveted release of oxytocin. Unlike those around her, she didn’t notice herself transitioning to a more peaceful state of mind. This could be due to the way that trauma impacts hormones. 

Neuroscience academics Sarah Baracz and Femke Buisman-Pijlman explain that “Positive or negative experiences early in life can shape the oxytocin system.” Specifically, “Exposure to adversity, such as stress or illness, can detrimentally affect the development and functioning of oxytocin and the oxytocin receptor.”

This means that when working with clients who have experienced trauma, it’s possible that they won’t sink into an altered state of bliss as sometimes happens for clients who don’t have that history. Once again, it’s best for the practitioner (me!) to release expectations about the results of a session.

How did it go with Andre?

In a moment, you can see for yourself! First, I want to thank Andre for his service to our country and his generosity in allowing you to observe his session.

Of the more than 700 people who have already found the video of Andre’s first professional cuddling session, here are two comments:

“…so calming to watch.”

“…part of me feels I’m also there.”

Maybe these viewers are getting a boost of oxytocin from just watching. I’d love to see a study on that. In the meanwhile, I invite you to breathe with us, see if you can relax your body, and notice whether you experience a deeper state of calm.