I'm not happy with this post and it isn't finished. However, I thought I'd stick it up because I need the wisdom of others. Not least because I've never cuddled anywhere except the UK.
I have been thinking for a long time about the different types of professional cuddlers. I have met several, but not all. This is an initial stab at talking about these different types. In the fullness of time the cuddling community may evolve different words for different categories, or different training or regulatory systems.
Note that I do not stand by this particular system of categorisation of the cuddle professionals who can be found on Cuddle Comfort. (For a start, any such system is arbitrary.) It's just where my thinking is at the moment. Obviously lots of people will not fit easily into any of these categories: the idea is to find a system of organisation into which almost everybody does fit.
Constructive comments please. If you are a professional, what category do you fall into? And what category do you believe others perceive you as being? What, if any, categories are missing? I'm particularly interested in comments from experienced clients.
I have identified six categories of professional cuddler:
A) Cuddle Therapist. Probably has a background in a caring profession and is likely to have completed at least one training course. Their practice may be informed by psychotherapy or other therapeutic modalities. Can talk intelligently about issues like transference, and is well-boundaried. Usually at least 25 years old. Thoughtful and detailed profile.
B ) Cuddle practitioner. May have completed a training course and has a good or excellent profile. Competant and reliable professional with good boundaries, but doesn't have the depth of knowledge of a cuddle therapist.
C) Cuddle hobbyist. Sees cuddling as a good way of making some extra cash or just getting lots of cuddles. Fairly reliable and well-meaning, but may not really understand or care about what they are doing. Often have only a brief profile.
D) Cuddle unprofessional. A variant of the hobbyist, but somebody who is completely unsuited to professional cuddling and has has no concern for clients. Likely to have little or no written profile and be living a fairly chaotic lifestyle. Unboundaried. May cancel without notice, turn up drunk, fall asleep for the whole session, engage in sexual activities or sexually assault the client. But on a good day, may provide a decent service. This is the category that gives rise to many of the complaints on the forum.
Q) Sex worker. Offers some combination of cuddling, massage and sexual services. Shouldn't be on Cuddle Comfort, but finds refuge here because of restrictive laws in certain places. May be only dimly aware of cuddling as a Thing.
Z) Deliberately criminal.