Dr. Stone Kraushaar, a clinical psychologist known as “The Hug Doctor™” and the founder of “Hug Therapy™, brings us something more than a “feel good” book. It’s a “do good” book. The 21-Day “Hugging Journey™” in this book will allow you to quickly assess what is working in your life—and what isn’t.

Contents Foreword Author’s Note Introduction This Is How It Happened Part I: Hugging Essentials Part II: How to Hug Part III: Embrace Yourself Part IV: Embrace Life Part V: Embrace Others Part VI: Summing Up and Moving Forward Why I Wrote Hug Therapy Afterword Appendix About the Author

“Hug Therapy disrupts the simple act of a hug, turning it into a way to spark connection within you, your community, with strangers. . .and it may just end up bringing our Planet to awareness of being one. Crazy, awesome hugs—of course you should become a part of this movement!” —Mich Hancock, Co-founder of TEDxGatewayArch, Host of MichMash Podcast “I’m excited to say I have now completed my twenty-one-day hugging journey. I found it powerful and useful. Stone has created a deceptively simple sounding twenty-one-day challenge that is in fact a genius concept when you understand how all the pieces, he brings to it fit and work together. I have started to view each day differently in terms of how I interact with the people in my life. We can’t get enough kindness and caring in the world. I am now starting to see how improvements with friends and family could ripple out to people in my neighborhood and much further into the world.” —Brian Lunt, Medici co-founder, Inspiration behind Top-50 STL “Before I was introduced to the twenty-one-day hugging challenge, I was depressed, anxious, and struggling with fibromyalgia. It wouldn’t be too strong to say that I felt ready to nosedive into the pavement. Believe it or not, seven days after going on the twenty-one-day hugging journey on Facebook Live and reading Hug Therapy, I felt like a new man. I chronicled it all on Facebook and I would love for you to check it out. My life was transformed. I felt supercharged—no, wait— I am supercharged. I believe it’s not a journey; it’s a lifestyle. The biggest takeaway for me from the book was being radically transparent in everything I do. It totally freed me up to do greater good and be inspired in the process. I was made for this. Come with us on this journey. It meets you where you are, and you can create whatever really matters to you!” —Gary Havel Jr., Mailman, War Hero, and Hugging Ambassador “Dr. Stone has taken us far beyond the everyday hug. With his 21-Second hug, virtual hug, and ‘space of a hug,’ he invites us on a twenty-one-day hugging journey of discovery that opens up a whole universe of new windows into empathy, sharing, transforming, building community, and deeply being with other humans. So, if you see people walking down the street stopping for conversation, asking permission, breaking out into spontaneous, longer hugs, you will know that they have been reading this engaging, surprising, concise, and thought-provoking book. Join the fun and take the personal challenges. Get this book today. You just might see yourself and encounter others in a new, beautiful way.” —Lou Agosta, Faculty Member, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and Author of a Rumor of Empathy “In a time when our government, politicians, and the news media try to sell us on racial, ethnic, religious, and gender differences, Hug Therapy inspires us to slow down and embrace our fellow human beings, either physically or virtually, by making an emotional and spiritual connection. I urge you to fully embrace Hug Therapy, take up the 21-Day Journey, and join the global Hugging Strangers Movement; your heart, your new friends, your community, and the world will thank you.” —Robert Tallon Author of The Enneagram Connection and coauthor of Awareness to Action “Hug Therapy not only captures the importance of why hugging will help you live a healthier, more fulfilled life—it concretely lays out steps that integrate hugging into your DNA. It’s a book you can get value from over and over again!” —Rick Morrison, founder of Hug The Moment and co-author with his daughter Shana of the amazing children’s book The Hug Store “The 21-Day Hug Journey has really helped me understand how critical it is to hug myself! I have completed the journey three times now and it has become my go to, helping me get through whatever life throws at me! I am better connected to my family and friends because of the journey. Thanks Hug Doctor!” —Marcia Wever, owner and operator, St Louis City Fitness, LLC & The Movement Center of St Louis LLC “Hug Therapy is a re-envisioned expanded and brilliant twist that richly brings out the power of hugging in just 21 days. It teaches about the self-hug and how to bring it into one's outer circle, creating balance and harmony for the traveler.” —Kevin Zaborney, BA, MDiv, Founder National Hugging Day "Oh my! I’m so encouraged with how your book has influenced my life. It made it possible for my brother and I to visit after a long time without harsh words. It also helped me to dig deep into how to make better relationship decisions. Thanks so much." —Charlene Nordsell, registered nurse, retired from the Veteran’s Hospital, Fayeteville, Arkansas   “Well, I’d heard about it for quite a while and heard some things that made me curious, so I figured What the heck? I’m going to do this myself. My focus for 21 days was on noticing what I had in common with people. I can be a bit of a hard ass at times and judge people pretty quickly. The journey was remarkable. It slowed me down, increased my self awareness, and made me a much more pleasant guy to be around—so I have been told. The Hug Doctor is onto something here, and I challenge anyone to take this on. I’ve since shared it with much of my family with great results. One thing I think people really have to get is it’s not all about physical hugs—it’s equally about the way we are in the world. Yet, it makes us more aware of the real hugs we do have. I had six yesterday with friends and family, and now I’m more more aware of and appreciative of every one." —Theodore Nordsell, engineering project manager  "I belong to Unity of San Francisco. At every Sunday service, we all rise and give each other a hug or a handshake. Nearly everyone goes for the hug. And no wonder…a handshake keeps people apart. A hug brings them together. And that is the essence of this insightful book. It will show you why hugs can heal, keep you healthy, and bring you closer to other people. So, pack your bags and discover these incredible benefits as you go on this book’s life-changing 'Hugging Journey.' " —Allen Klein, author of Positive Thoughts for Troubling Times "When I first found Dr. Stone on Twitter I can’t tell you how happy I was! I have always been a big hugger, so when I found out he was writing a book because he believed in the power of hugs like me I was so excited.  He sent me a copy to read in the early stages and I LOVED going on my 21-day journey. I was excited already and then when I understood the self-hug I was totally hooked…in times like this to be able to connect from across the globe and support each other in something so simple as a hug with such power is amazing." —Rita Swords drug and alcohol addiction counselor, Newbridge, Ireland                RitaSwords@SwordsRita "Dr. Stone's book—and prescription for a healthy and happy life being found in committing to hug ourselves and each other—is one of the most eye-opening metaphors for how to live life openly, freely, and more happily than any others I've encountered. It is so valuable, this Hug Therapy. Enjoy this book and all the happy hugs it will bring to you and your world." —Mary Elizabeth Beary, Beary, Ink. "As a scientist, I was initially skeptical about the power of hugs in certain respects and, as I have learned more and experienced “getting lost in a hug,” I see it in a whole new light. I think we need much more research in this area, and it is something that, although simple, has profound possibility.  I have also gone on a 21-day hugging journey, and trust me it’s a unique and meaningful experience. Hug Therapy delivers." —Lloyd S. Robinson PhD, senior research technician, molecular microbiology, Washington University in St. Louis "I completed my first 21-day Hugging Journey a year ago. I found it to be pretty amazing and life-changing on multiple levels. It was so helpful I continued on completing FIVE Hugging journeys so far. Each one unique and transformative in its own way. Dr. Stone, aka "The Hug Doctor" was highly supportive in guiding me during my process. His book Hug Therapy is a book I would highly recommend to anyone! I learned how to more deeply connect with myself and others, to be more present, hug more and longer, and to love and accept myself unconditionally.  I learned to be still, to embrace and appreciate the simple beauty in nature, and to ground myself everyday, I can feel the grass tickling my toes as I write this—the ground is so grounding. Ha.  Seriously, it helped me to let go of fears I had been holding onto for years and to be brave. As I continue to learn, grow, and deal with the ebb and flow of life, I will always be grateful for Hug Therapy and its power to help me shift to a more attuned and joyful version of myself. Blessings."   —Lisa Ferrin, owner and founder at Angel Impact Photography, Redondo Beach, CA

More than nine million people in the country often or always feel lonely, according to a 2017 report published by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness. Beating ourselves up in certain moments and not appreciating who we really are and what we really have. All over the world countries are in a decision-making process and working to better understand the impact of disconnection. For example, in the United Kingdom, (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/world/europe/uk-britainloneliness.html) the issue prompted Prime Minister Theresa May to appoint a minister for loneliness. Former United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, wrote an article for the Harvard Business Review arguing that loneliness needed addressing in the workplace. It can be associated, he wrote, “with a greater risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, depression and anxiety.” Incidents like school shootings are devastating. We must also be deeply concerned about the climate of fear that is steadily growing among students, families and communities across our country who are now feeling suddenly vulnerable where before they felt safe. Hug Therapy offers a tool to bring us closer and woven into the fabric of our communities can make a powerful difference. Doctor Stone and his team are reaching out to every school and community impacted by a shooting. The author is uniquely positioned as The Hug Doctor™. Doctor Stone’s ‘walk-the-talk’ compassion and kindness – as a visionary of The 21-day hugging journey can be turned into a strong competitive advantage in the marketplace.