Bri Leonard

Bri’s  Pronouns: He/They

CUDDLIST: A REVOLUTION IN HUMAN CONNECTION

Unfortunately, when it comes to ethical, structured and platonic human touch – It is often the under served, marginalized communities (BIPOC and LGBTQ+) that may feel the most intense loss and longing for connective, honorable and therapeutic touch. (It would also be a mistake to assume that the Hetero and Cisgender community is also finding the best venue to get their needs met).

“Cuddlist is a concrete solution when it comes to finding safer spaces for consensual, empathetic, touch and communication”. BL

I believe so strongly in consent based touch and holding intimate space with other humans that I became a Therapeutic Touch Specialist in order to offer services that hold space for our underserved community to actualize and seek out trusted connections where you can feel comfortable in bringing your whole self to a session.

“At Cuddlist we actively reduce or erase shame or transform an unforgiving critical internal voice that attempts to convince us that we are unworthy or unlovable”. BL

What are the 7 shame based reasons that causes a person to resist assistance or care when it comes to touch and authentic communication?

#1: FEAR: There isn’t an empowered roadmap or a language yet developed in our collective hearts when it comes to asking for getting core, touch needs met especially when we don’t have the option to ask for it safely.

#2: OUR PERSONAL HISTORY: We may have experienced unwanted or abusive touch that led us to recoil from seeking touch that was healthy for us.

#3: LACK OF SUPPORT, GUIDANCE or EDUCATION: We may have believed that there was no outlet for therapeutic touch needs nor had we ever been guided, taught or shown these experiences in a “safe” environment with a trusted professional.

#4) FAILURE: We may have unsuccesfully or awkwardly tried and failed at getting our needs met. This put us into a predicament and we made a decision not to reach out again.

#5) OBLIGATION: We may have allowed aspects of touch to happen through obligation– but we may have not actively chose them or understood them. We also may have been touched against our will and may not have not had a chance to recover or come to terms with such experiences.

#6) UNWORTHINESS: We may have not believed that we could receive these gifts or grant ourselves these special moments in a safe consensual way. We instead starved ourselves of core human interactions.

#7: We may have even sought out connection but didn’t want all the complexities of full blown relationships and ensuing potential for loss of self/identity.

Working with a CUDDLIST you can begin to change your past with a bright path forward!

From The Book of Cuddles by Dr. Yoni Alkan: “Western culture has a complicated relationship with touch. Traditionally our society does not allow men to explore kind and affectionate touch or nonsexual touch, while most women and nonbinary people have difficulty finding spaces where it is safe for them to experience positive touch and might even find themselves in danger. Additionally, there are marginalized groups that have had a hard time finding touch at all because of cultural bias and discrimination around gender, age, body type, race, disability and other factors.”

CUDDLIST: Professional, Intentional, Collaborative, Responsive and Active Therapeutic Touch