EARLIER this month, Britain’s first cuddling agency opened in London. And now cuddle therapy has reached Sussex.

Holistic health specialists Helen Thatcher and Christine Harris have designed their own brand of cuddle therapy, a phenomena that has taken the US by storm, called Holding for Healing.

Their “revolutionary, professional one-to-one cuddling” sessions are the first in Sussex.

The technique, a non-sexual, physical touch therapy that includes embracing, cuddling and hugs “nurtures and nourishes on all levels; physical, emotional and spiritual”.

Helen, who has trained in 'Vital Development', a dance-based system for personal development, and Vital Development facilitator Christine have been developing their technique over the past nine months after discovering that many of their clients were suffering from feelings of loneliness and stress, overwhelmed by the pressures of life, and lacked physical touch in their lives.

They introduced the technique into their groups to hone their skills.

“We are now ready to reach a wider audience,” said Helen, “At the moment, we have about 10 clients, many of whom have been returning to us, which is a real positive, because they are getting something from it, even if they’re a bit apprehensive because they don’t know what to expect. By the second session, people get more from it because they are relaxed.”

She explained: “Holding for Healing provides enormous physical and emotional nourishment as it allows the therapist to sooth and nurture in a loving way.

“In the US, cuddle therapy is carried out on beds, sometimes with people wearing pyjamas, but here we want to keep it professional and healing – you can ultimately end up in a very close embrace.”

Helen quotes American social worker Virginia Satir, who was known as the ‘mother of family therapy’ and is famous for her edict: “We all need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth."

As Helen explained: “Increasingly, scientific research is indicating that without physical touch, human beings cannot thrive and achieve their full potential. The chemical reaction in the brain when engaged in a hug produces the feel-good chemicals serotonin and oxytocin, which contribute to an overall sense of wellbeing.

“Touch can play an important role in reducing stress and strengthening immune systems.”

She added: “I feel that we are at the cutting edge of this phenomenon and there is a place for it. Yes, the British have a reputation for being physically reserved but times are changing, things are shaking up, and in Brighton there are people who are open to new therapies. In my experience, people who are willing to go into the unknown will see that this is completely natural.

“We are animals but we have become a mental society. In our sessions, we come back to the physical.”

To sceptics, she says, "Try it out for yourself. Try it out with friends and family and see what it feels like."

Many Holding for Healing clients are single mothers who feel under pressure to hold everything together. “They are completely stressed because they are trying to cope with their children, their jobs, everything, and this is an opportunity for them to have time for themselves,” said Helen.

“We also have people who come to us because they have suffered trauma and that presents itself in the person as what we call ‘body armour’, where people look like they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. This technique is a space where you can feel the support from another human being.

“We all have that little inner boy or girl crying out for love and attention. Everyone deserves loving touch.”

So what happens during a Holding for Healing cuddle session? “A typical 75-minute session has a standard structure, although I tailor a session to suit a client’s needs,” explains Helen. “On arrival, we sit down with a client for a consultation to find out where they’re at, and set boundaries and safety levels - there is no kissing or touching of genitals.

“On mats on the floor, there is a body relaxing or breathing meditation, and then we do some ordinary touching – often we start by holding people’s feet because we are grounding them. Touch to start with is not caressing – it is very positioned and very conscious, so I will say, ‘Here I am touching your knee’. It is very intuitive and organic.

“I will sit behind a person so their back is against my chest. We talk throughout, so I will be telling them what is coming next, and what we find is that people will then share and disclose, and there can be tears and laughter.

“Some people prefer to drift off into a delicious deep dream-like state.

“Being held, emotionally and physically, by someone who is completely present and attentive is a profound experience that creates a space where you can relax, knowing you are safe in the arms of someone else.”

Helen and Christine are offering Holding for Healing in wellbeing clinics in and around Sussex and plan to extend into London by the end of the year.

For details about workshops and how to book, and about Holding for Healing, visit www.helenthatcher.com.