Can a genuine, warm connection with another person facilitate healing and enhance your well-being? YES!
Relational Healing Through Trusted Touch and Connection - Allowing for a Corrective Emotional Experience
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Surrogate Partner Therapy (SPT), and is it for me?
Surrogate Partner Therapy is a hands-on supplemental modality to talk therapy that models and practices healthy relationship, communication, and intimacy skills. The client, the surrogate partner, and the clinician work together in the triadic model, meaning a clinician is required to be a part of the team. Surrogate Partner Therapy is generally for non-partnered clients with a history that has disrupted their abilities to date and find a partner. While Surrogate Partner Therapy used to commonly be referred to as ‘sex surrogacy’, the industry, or at least my colleagues and I, have moved away from the term because the work is not about sex. Our work is focused on relationship skill-building, which can have a significant impact on one’s sexual experiences. For more on the evolution of surrogate partner therapy, read here.
Are you a clinician looking for more information on SPT? Click here for some resources.
While I no longer offer traditional surrogate partner therapy, I am open to an intensive model of hands-on intimacy coaching. If that’s of interest, please get in touch with me through this page: https://www.meetmichellerenee.com/dateme
Are you a therapist?
No. I’m not a mental health therapist, meaning I haven’t gone to school for any talk therapy training, nor am I a licensed therapist or counselor. My training is all outside the collegiate system. You can view my training history here. I’m a touch practitioner with excellent listening skills.
What if I don’t have a therapist?
I always say that our work together is best when used in conjunction with talk therapy. If you’d like support finding a talk therapist, I’m happy to help as best as possible.
I’m a therapist; how do I connect my clients with you?
If you are a therapist and wondering how I’d like you to connect me with your client, please reach out first so I can get a feel for your client, and so we can see if we are compatible for collaboration. Let’s connect and we can schedule a call. Potential clients should ask their therapist to reach out. Also, there are additional resources for clinicians/therapists here.
Who do you work with?
I work with all genders. Everyone is welcome.
I tend to attract clients across many types of neurodivergence, likely because I live there too.
I’ve built a specialty in working with survivors of childhood sexual assault and clients with “mother hunger” and other early-childhood attachment wounds.
Are you looking to connect deeper with yourself and others? I can meet you where you are.
Will insurance pay for this?
No. Insurance will not cover this type of work, though they may pay for your talk therapist, when working in collaboration.
Does a session need to include touch?
No, definitely not! While my background is in cuddle therapy, touch is NEVER required. I meet my clients where they are.
Could this be available as exposure therapy?
Yes, my work with clients is a version of exposure therapy. You are exposing your nervous system to intimacy and connection with a trained professional. You can feel confident that I’m sturdy and capable.
How often should I have a session?
I offer sessions of varying lengths, from 60 minutes to 3 hours and even longer immersive sessions (see YourPlatonicGirlfriend.com). If you are located in an area that I schedule more often, weekly sessions may be possible. If you are in an area I schedule less frequently, scheduling a couple of sessions on consecutive days if also an option. We can work together to find the schedule that works best for you. I can also help connect you to other pros in your area for supplemental sessions.
Where are you located?
My home base is in San Diego, California. I see clients in Los Angeles and Anaheim monthly, and in the Baltimore/DC area and in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, quarterly. Are you outside those areas? I am expanding my reach, so please let me know where you are. You are invited to vote for your city or reach out if you’d like me to come directly to you.
Are you kink and BDSM knowledgeable? Do you work with any alternative communities?
Yes! I’ve been in the local kink and non-monogamy communities since 2014. I feel comfortable working with ABDL, cross-dressing/gender expression, foot fetish, and furries, as well as the expanded relationship configurations. I often say that “your weird isn’t weird to me.”
Are you a Tantrica or Dakini?
I’ve had this question before and I generally answer, “Since I don’t really know what that is, my answer is no.” (I’m not connected to Tantra in any way.)