Lifestyle: Professional cuddling is a real business – so I had a one-on-one session to learn why people do it

Built to help people who feel lonely and depressed, there's a registered company behind it, an hourly rate, and even a certified diploma.

Paying to get cuddles is not as unusual as some might think. It is, in fact, a real business built to help people who feel lonely, depressed, or simply in need of an extra cuddle from a stranger.

You can look at it as an upgrade to the "free hugs" you sometimes see on the streets. The difference is there's a registered company behind it, an hourly rate, and even a certified diploma.

The company, Cuddlist says: "Touch plays an important role in building social connections and most of us don’t get enough touch in our lives."

How can cuddling with a stranger help combat loneliness and feel better with others? I decided to give it a try myself and find out.

This is my video experience with Dieniz, who is a "professional cuddlist." I had a one-hour session with her and she introduced me to this entirely new world of "cuddling."

Despite mine lasting one hour, a session can go up to six hours. It is all up to the client, together with deciding what to do and how to structure the time.

Cuddlist charges £80 per hour. If you're interested in trying, Dieniz also offered a discounted rate for Business Insider readers.

Produced by Claudia Romeo. Filmed by David Ibekwe.

Built to help people who feel lonely and depressed, there's a registered company behind it, an hourly rate, and even a certified diploma. Read Full Story