supporting healing with cuddles, consent, and play

our story

Consensual Cuddles is a Brown & Queer-Led healing space supporting Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color (QTBIPOC) and allies embrace playful intimacy in ways that feel safe for our nervous systems. Based in Southern California, Consensual Cuddles began as a dream our founder, Jozelle, was in search of for her own healing journey—a playful space focused on teaching consensual communication and platonic cuddling skills centering QTBIPOC.

Believing in the power of this dream, Jozelle began Consensual Cuddles in 2022 to share this cuddle magic and build community dedicated to a culture of consent. Consensual Cuddles is here to support every human, especially our brilliant QTBIPOC, cultivate joy, belonging, and trust, using platonic cuddling as a conduit for healing through play! 

Meet Jozelle “Jo” Wong Yu

Jozelle “Jo” Wong Yu (she/they) is a Queer Filipinx-Chinese human and Communication Studies Professor turned Professional Cuddler and Communications Specialist. With a master’s degree in Communication Studies and 6+ years of nonviolent communication training, she is passionate about facilitating brave experiences where anyone, especially QTBIPOC, can reconnect with their wholeness in tenderness and warmth. Jozelle lives on stolen Tongva, Serrano, and Cahuilla territory, colonially known as Loma Linda, California, where they enjoy yoga, dance, queer art, and comedy shows with her friends, sister, brother-in-love, dog pals, and parents.

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✨ reviews ✨

  • Alex (they/them)

    Software Engineer

    "I really love that touch is no longer a scary or scarce form of connection. Now that I have the skills I learned from working with Jozelle and Consensual Cuddles, I trust myself to get my needs met in ways that both my 5-year-old self and elder self smile upon. I'm better at knowing what I want, asking for it, receiving it, and trusting that I'm safe to receive these good things. The skills Jozelle teaches applies across realms (touch, work, relationships), and I am a better human since working with Consensual Cuddles. Highly recommend for your healing/upleveling journey!"

  • Fatima (she/they)

    Public Health Consultant

    “I feel more curious and hopeful around platonic touch and the playfulness that can come with it and the comfort and the safety and the trust that can be built with platonic touch in ways that I felt hesitant about going into our sessions. I’m feeling grateful about that, because there is just an expanded way of viewing it now. Trust can be playful and fun and cute and kinda silly and all of those things.”

  • Grace (she/her)

    Professional Cuddler

    “Lap of luxury with hair and back caresses was amazing... There were several moments when I said something vulnerable and was greeted with compassion and support. Jo was able to actively listen and reflect what I said beautifully. She also made it very safe for me to ask for what I want.”

  • Clarisse (they/them)

    Prop Master

    “[The best part of my sessions are] ...when we’re in the second half of the session (so I’m already very relaxed and comfortable) and Jozelle asks for a different position and if there’s anything I want to try, so I get to think about that question and be mindful of the pyshical sensations JUST in that moment while being in a safe space to request a certain touch or position is truly *magical* and empowering.”