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Snuggle with Sam Caring, therapeutic professional cuddler. Normalizing the field in New England since 2015. Coaching better cuddlers so no one feels alone on their journey

Cuddle therapy for the touch-starved. Since 2016, we've been in business helping hundreds of people feel less alone on their journey. Cuddle therapy is more than just a hug; it's a chance to have a deep connection with someone that accepts you for who you are. LGBTQ-friendly and minority-friendly business.

A few years ago, I wrote a book.I don't actually talk about it all that much, which is kind of funny considering it took...
09/25/2026

A few years ago, I wrote a book.

I don't actually talk about it all that much, which is kind of funny considering it took over my life for about 6 months straight.

The reason I wrote it wasn't because I woke up one morning thinking, "You know what? I should be an author." It was because life forced me to slow down.

Back in 2019, I was convinced it was going to be my best year yet. Work was going well, I had wonderful people around me, and I felt like life was finally clicking.

Then I went to a trampoline park...which, in hindsight, was a terrible idea.

One awkward landing later, I could barely walk. I had to move out of my apartment and back in with my parents while I recovered. I couldn't drive, couldn't work the way I wanted to, and for a while I barely saw anyone.

I became a hermit completely by accident.

At first, I hated it.
But after a while I realized something.

When life strips away all the busyness, you're left with yourself.

That's super uncomfortable.

Sometimes it's exactly what you need.

I found myself asking questions I'd never really slowed down enough to think about before. Who am I when I can't keep myself busy? How do I want to show up? What actually matters to me?

Those questions eventually became Happy While Hermitting Handbook: a Guide For Your Isolation.
It's part story, part journal, and part invitation to get curious about yourself during the seasons of life that feel slower, quieter, or more isolated than you ever planned.

I never would've chosen that injury. But looking back... I'm grateful for what it taught me.

Funny how life does that sometimes.

You can find Happy While Hermitting Handbook on Amazon.

Have you ever thought you were going to have an easygoing time at one point, but then things started piling up and you e...
09/23/2026

Have you ever thought you were going to have an easygoing time at one point, but then things started piling up and you eventually thought "What have I gotten myself into?"

The past few months have certainly felt like that. It was wayyy more than I bargained for.

It normally would be overwhelming, but I'm feeling like I can handle it. It just might not look like exactly how I want it to (like being perfect about my social media schedule I’ve told myself I’d get back into since March… whelp)

In the past, having too much on my plate would be a surefire way to burnout. But looking back, I realize now that it's because I felt like EVERYTHING was a priority all at once (and it didn't help that other people told me that everything was a priority too). Everything needed to be done now, now, NOW! So of course I was stressing myself out in the process.

I don't need to do that to myself though. In fact, I'd say that if you're overwhelmed, it's likely because everything feels like a priority for you too.

Time management is a good skill to get good at to help you, but I've learned all the tools and skills in the world don't matter if you don't address this first:

Let yourself realize you actually have plenty of time. Like, way more than you think.

Unless there's unrealistic deadlines for massive projects (I've been there and sometimes do that to myself), I don't think you have to worry about running out of time.

But you do have to decide what gets addressed. And not just first, but right this moment.

Sometimes the answer is: none of them are getting addressed. Some of these deadlines are arbitrary. I can move them and give myself space. I need to eat. I need to bathe. I need to cuddle. (Yes, that last one was a shameless plug.)

Because even if you're busy, you still need to create space for yourself. That's exactly what I did this weekend, and that's exactly what I'll be doing next weekend.

You're always welcome to use sessions as a reason to create space for yourself. But whatever you do, please... don't prioritize yourself last on your busy to-do list.

You're worthy of putting yourself on it first.

I tend to be finicky and particular with how I define words.One I feel like people get wrong a lot is empathy.You see, i...
09/21/2026

I tend to be finicky and particular with how I define words.

One I feel like people get wrong a lot is empathy.

You see, in one video I watched in one of my cuddle therapy trainings, they describe empathy as being able to say "Hey, I'm here. I understand what it's like here. And you're not alone."

I think that's a correct definition, but the journey to get there isn't really well-described. Most people jump to how they would feel if it were them, and they use that feeling to relate to another person. I don’t think that’s quite right though.

Take for example, if you were to say to me "I'm feeling really sad."

I've felt really sad before. I know what feeling really sad feels like for me. Most people that call themselves empaths would try on feeling their version of really sad (I often will too) and start expressing their empathy into words with the other person.

But my version of empathy doesn't end there. There's one more step I often take with anyone I meet:

I adjust and finetune to your feelings. And I do this by asking a very important question that I think we often overlook in society as a whole.

(If you've seen me for a session and shared feelings or a story with me, you've probably heard me ask this at least once, if not ten million times.)

I ask "What's that like for you?"

I need to ask this because my version of "really sad" could be COMPLETELY different from yours.
Even if I was kinda close to what your version is, I now know way better what it feels like for you... because you told me directly what it feels like for you.

Now I can truly say, "I'm here. I understand you. And you're not alone."

Because I want you to feel like I can truly see you when you're with me.

Because I care about you.

A while ago, I was catching up with an old client who moved out to the West Coast. Before he left, I referred him to a c...
09/18/2026

A while ago, I was catching up with an old client who moved out to the West Coast. Before he left, I referred him to a cuddle therapist I trust out his way, and he finally booked a session with her.
(I asked if I could share this story, by the way. He said yes.)

The session went really well! The problem wasn't the practitioner. The problem was their schedules.
He wanted to come in every week or two, but her availability just didn't line up with his work schedule. He asked me if he should just find another cuddle therapist instead.

Normally I'd say yes. But in this case, I knew this practitioner was a really good fit for him.

So I suggested something different:
Why not tell her what's getting in the way and see if the two of you can solve it together?

Sometimes we forget that solving the problem together is an option.

Most of us who do this work genuinely want to help you. If there's something preventing you from coming in more regularly, I'd much rather know about it than have you quietly disappear because you assumed there wasn't a solution.

As it turns out, they talked about it and came up with a schedule that worked for both of them.
Win-win.

Maybe the thing getting in your way is scheduling.
Maybe it's travel.
Maybe it's worrying you'll get too attached.
Maybe it's wondering if you can afford sessions as often as you'd like.

Whatever it is, if you genuinely want help figuring it out, ask.

I'm not interested in convincing you to book more sessions than you want.

But seriously, if there's a problem standing between you and something you know would be good for you, I'd be happy to see if we can solve it together.

Sometimes the solution starts with simply having the conversation.

Let us see how we can help you.

I generally don’t make it easy for people to tip me, and I don’t ask for them. Quite frankly, I don’t really want to ear...
09/16/2026

I generally don’t make it easy for people to tip me, and I don’t ask for them. Quite frankly, I don’t really want to earn tips.

Instead I charge a high hourly rate. I could do a lower rate and ask for tips more. It might even earn me more money overall if I do.

But I think we're all getting tipping fatigue.

Sure, tipping can make more money in theory. But I'd rather be upfront about what a session costs so you know exactly what you're paying before you book.

Then you have no mental math, surprises, or worries that you insulted me.

I've worked tipped jobs before. Sometimes it helped me make ends meet.
But I've also seen the downside. Especially as a woman in a service industry.

When businesses rely on tips, it's easy to lower prices in the hope people will make up the difference. That often means working more hours for less predictable income. And honestly... if I'm overworked, I'm probably not giving you my best.

There's another reason I'm not a fan of relying on tips.

Throughout my service jobs - including this one - I've had people use tips as a way to try to get extra attention or push for… services I don't want to offer...so yeah. No thanks.

I'd much rather build my business around the value I can provide. Not because I'm using my feminine allure to entice people to pay me more.

Our sessions are about something much deeper than that. Like:
✨ Learning to ask for the kind of touch you actually want.
✨ Getting out of your head and back into your body.
✨ Having space to process life with someone who genuinely cares.
✨ Discovering that meaningful, non-s*xual touch can be healing.
✨ Building healthier ways of connecting with yourself and the people around you.

That's what I want our sessions to be about.

So yes, tips are always appreciated. But they're never expected, and they never determine the care you'll receive from me. I'd rather focus on helping you than wondering whether I earned an extra few dollars. ❤️

09/01/2026

I'll be honest: this year has been brutal. But this moment really took the cake... And not just because it happened the day after my husband's birthday 💀

With this last hospital visit, this is now acute hospital visit number three this year. Nevermind a five-month partial hospitalization from my husband that only got discharged about a month and a half ago.

My dark humor joke is that I've hit my emergency quota for the year. (If you know me, I'm no stranger to visiting hospitals. I tend to do well handling logistics in emergencies and I'm often one of the first family members to be called in my immediate family.)

If you've had a rough year too, remember: you are a mammal. Life has been crazy stressful on you. Be gentle with your body. It desperately needs to catch up.

11 years ago, I almost didn't walk into my very first cuddle session.I was sitting in my car outside a hotel, fidgeting ...
07/24/2026

11 years ago, I almost didn't walk into my very first cuddle session.

I was sitting in my car outside a hotel, fidgeting with my hem, and trying to calm my nerves before meeting my very first client.

It was October 26, 2015.

I had no idea that one session would turn into a career that's now lasted over a decade.

At the time, I didn't know how much this work would change me. I didn't know how much skill it would take to truly hold space for people. And I definitely didn't know how much I'd still be learning 11 years later.

Looking back, I made plenty of mistakes. But there are a few things I'm really proud that I got right from the very beginning.
✨ I screened clients because my safety mattered.
✨ I always met clients in public before heading to a private space.
✨ I listened more than I talked and wasn't afraid of meaningful conversations.
✨ I learned to be comfortable with healthy, non-s*xual touch through years of ballroom dancing, and that foundation has served me ever since.

One thing that hasn't changed is my commitment to learning.

Every year I invest more time into understanding people, communication, boundaries, nervous system regulation, and how I can better support the people who trust me enough to walk through my door.

The techniques have evolved.
My confidence has grown.
The questions I ask are better.

But the reason I do this work is still exactly the same:
I genuinely care about the people I get to work with.

As I unofficially celebrate 10 years as a cuddle therapist, I just want to say: thank you.
Whether you've been following along quietly, shared one of my posts, or trusted me with your own journey... you've been part of this story too.

Here's to the next chapter.

A few months ago, I managed to lose my car keys in the space of about five minutes.I had stopped at the grocery store be...
07/22/2026

A few months ago, I managed to lose my car keys in the space of about five minutes.

I had stopped at the grocery store before my last cuddle session of the day, and when I got back to my car... they were gone.

I retraced my steps (which works sometimes but honestly is advice I hate), asked employees if anyone had turned them in, and internally panicked as it got closer and closer to the client session time.
No dice.

Eventually, I realized I was going to have to cancel my session.

I hated doing it, especially with a new client, but I also knew they deserved someone who was fully present. Sure, I could have called a Lyft, but I would have been freaking out about my car missing.
While I was searching, one of the grocery store employees looked at me and said,
"You're way calmer than I'd be."

The funny thing is... I was frustrated.
But it reminded me of the first time I lost my keys back in 2013.
It was 11:30pm at night on a Tuesday. Back then, I cried, panicked, and couldn't sleep. I was 1000% not calm.

This time felt different.
Yes, it was inconvenient. Yes, it cost me time and money (of course I refunded them– I know someone will ask in the comments). But I also knew something my younger self didn't:
I've gotten through hard things before.
This wasn't the end of the world. It was just another problem I'd eventually solve.

It made me think about something I see often in cuddle sessions.

Healing isn't always one huge breakthrough.
Sometimes it's realizing your reactions have changed.
You recover a little faster.
You don't stay stuck as long.
You trust yourself a little more than you used to.

Those quiet changes can be easy to miss, but they're often where the biggest growth happens.
Sometimes slowing down gives us the chance to notice just how far we've come... and maybe even rewrite an old story about ourselves with a little more compassion.

Growth doesn't always look dramatic.

Sometimes it looks like losing your car keys... and realizing you've become someone who can handle it differently than you once did.

"What happens if we run into each other in public?"It's a question I get asked from time to time, and honestly, it's a f...
07/21/2026

"What happens if we run into each other in public?"

It's a question I get asked from time to time, and honestly, it's a fair one.

If you live in or around Boston, there's a very real chance we could cross paths somewhere. I've run into clients at theaters, coffee shops, networking events, karaoke bars, on the T, while running errands, and even at parties through mutual friends. Boston is surprisingly small.

So what happens if I see you out in the wild?

Simple.

I have one policy that I follow:

Unless you approach me first, I ignore you. I won't wave. I won't come over and say hello. I won't acknowledge that we know each other. And if you do choose to come say hi, I still won't disclose how we know each other. That's entirely up to you.

It sounds mean, and it’s honestly hard for me not to automatically be friendly with people I know in public.

But I adopted this approach after hearing a s*x therapist talk about this same policy with her clients, and it made so much sense.

Your privacy matters.

Just because we've worked together doesn't mean I should assume you want others to know that. And I never want to put you in an awkward position of explaining to whomever you’re with how we know each other.

(I’m a terrible liar. Don’t make me lie for you.)

It doesn't need to be awkward. We can simply exist in the same spaces and go about our day.
And if you'd like to stop and chat? Great.

If you'd rather not? That's perfectly okay too.

I want you to know that your privacy is important to me, both inside and outside of our sessions.
How we know each other is your story to tell, not mine.

Fun fact: as a lifelong MA girlie, I used to be a full-on “Masshole” driver 😅Like… calm, kind, patient human in real lif...
06/12/2026

Fun fact: as a lifelong MA girlie, I used to be a full-on “Masshole” driver 😅

Like… calm, kind, patient human in real life - but put me behind the wheel and it was a very different story.

Someone cuts me off? Instant rage and middle fingers.

Driving 40 on the highway with not a car in front of you? Ohhh, don’t even get me STARTED.

I knew the road rage was doing me a disservice. I tried so many times to fix it. None of it was really a big deal, anyways. My fixes would work for a week… maybe two. And then I’d be right back in it.
But something shifted recently.

Now when someone cuts me off, I still feel that quick flicker of irritation… but it passes almost immediately. Instead, I find myself thinking, “Wow, they must be in a rush. Hope they’re okay.” And then I just… move on. No lingering anger. No carrying it with me for the next five minutes of the drive.
I stopped being surprised. I was genuinely feeling these emotions rather than the bouts of rage.
Of course someone’s going to cut you off. Of course someone’s going to drive like that.
(Especially on 93. It’s weird when that DOESN’T happen! There’s no reason for you to be surprised when s**t happens.)

That lack of surprise meant that the anger and feelings of indignation went down. My normal empathy went up, even behind the wheel.

I logically knew these things before. But somehow, that acceptance changed what feelings came up in me. The logic caught up with my emotions.

Instead of surprise, I felt something different: acceptance.

Because when you’re not constantly shocked by things that are bound to happen, the anger and feelings of being wronged doesn’t affect you as much. You might still feel it at first… but it moves through you faster and gets to acceptance faster.

(Because come on, I’m not a robot. I still get mad. It’s just not as strong as it used to be.)

Many people will talk about controlling your emotions or trying to “stay calm.” That never really worked for me long term. What has helped more is accepting that certain, cruddy things will happen - without being okay with them happening. That’s the key.

And honestly? It’s made me a much calmer driver… and a calmer person in general.

Hope this helps! Tag your favorite Masshole 😄

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