Touch is a human
necessity.

We started CuddlePro because the research is clear — and yet professional, safe, therapeutic touch remained hard to access. We built the platform to change that.

Our Mission
"To make safe, certified therapeutic touch accessible to everyone who needs it."

We connect people seeking comfort, relief, and human connection with trained, certified Cuddle Pros — in a framework built on safety, boundaries, and mutual respect.

Born from research
and real need.

CuddlePro was founded in 2022 after our team spent years studying the science of therapeutic touch — and noticing a gap. While research consistently showed that platonic touch reduces cortisol, improves sleep, and eases loneliness, there was no trusted, professional platform to facilitate it.

We built CuddlePro to fill that gap. Starting with a small cohort of certified practitioners in California, we developed a vetting process, a code of ethics, and a booking system designed around client safety and practitioner wellbeing.

Today we operate across the US with over 150 certified Pros — and we're just getting started.

2022
Founded
Started in Los Angeles with 8 certified practitioners.
150+
Certified Pros
Vetted, trained, and background-checked professionals.
4,800+
Sessions
Safe, professional sessions completed to date.
98%
Satisfaction
Client satisfaction rating across all completed sessions.

Our values

Everything we build, every Pro we certify, and every session we facilitate is guided by these principles.

🛡️
Safety first, always
Every Cuddle Pro undergoes a background check, completes certified training, and agrees to a strict code of conduct before joining our platform. Safety is non-negotiable.
🤝
Consent & boundaries
All sessions begin with a boundary discussion. Our Pros are trained to honour limits, read comfort levels, and adapt in real time. Comfort is the foundation of every session.
💛
Radical inclusivity
Therapeutic touch is for everyone — regardless of age, background, gender identity, or reason for seeking connection. We actively recruit Pros who reflect the diversity of our clients.
🌱
Professional standards
We hold ourselves and our Pros to the highest professional standards. Sessions are therapeutic, not romantic. We partner with accredited training programmes to ensure this.
🔬
Evidence-based practice
Our approach is grounded in peer-reviewed research on the therapeutic benefits of touch. We stay current with the science and update our training accordingly.
🌍
Accessibility
We believe no one should go without human connection because of cost or location. We're committed to expanding access and keeping our pricing transparent and fair.

Meet the team

A small, passionate group of therapists, technologists, and advocates who believe in the healing power of human connection.

A
Avery Linden
Co-founder & CEO
Former somatic therapist with 10 years of clinical practice. Built CuddlePro after seeing first-hand how touch deprivation affects mental health outcomes.
D
Dr. Dana Marsh
Head of Training & Standards
PhD in Clinical Psychology. Designed our certification curriculum and vetting process. Passionate about making evidence-based therapeutic touch mainstream.
M
Marcus Reyes
Co-founder & CTO
Built platforms for mental health and wellness startups for over a decade. Believes technology should reduce friction between people who need help and people who can provide it.

The science behind
therapeutic touch.

Decades of research support what our clients feel after every session.

01
Oxytocin release
Safe touch stimulates the release of oxytocin — the "bonding hormone" — which reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and promotes feelings of trust and calm.
02
Cortisol reduction
Studies show that just 10 minutes of consensual touch can measurably reduce cortisol levels — the hormone most associated with chronic stress and anxiety.
03
Nervous system regulation
Human touch activates the parasympathetic nervous system, shifting the body out of "fight or flight" and into a state of rest, recovery, and emotional processing.
04
Touch deprivation is real
Research from the University of Miami's Touch Research Institute confirms that touch deprivation is linked to depression, aggression, immune suppression, and sleep disorders.

Ready to feel connected?

Whether you're looking for a session or want to become a certified Cuddle Pro — we'd love to have you.