Private Kinship is built on respect, authenticity, and the belief that meaningful connection can change lives.
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A Relationship Designed Around Your Needs
You can tell us what kind of person—or group of people—you would feel most comfortable connecting with. Depending on availability, you may express preferences concerning:
The relationship or family role you want represented
Age range, background, identity, appearance, or other characteristics
Personality, communication style, and level of affection or emotional engagement
Activities you would like to share
Topics you would like the person to discuss
Encouraging words, traditions, routines, or supportive behaviors you would find meaningful
Whether the arrangement is for a single event or an ongoing relationship experience
We use this information to identify a compatible participant and create a personalized arrangement. All requests are discussed during the consultation and must be appropriate, lawful, mutually agreed upon, and within each participant’s personal and professional boundaries. Specific characteristics and requests are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
Personalized Pricing
Every arrangement is different, so fees are determined on a case-by-case basis. Pricing may depend on the role requested, number of participants, frequency and duration of meetings, location, activities, preparation, and level of customization. After an initial consultation, we will provide a clear quote before you decide whether to proceed.
About Jon
I’m Jonathan Kimmes, a relationship researcher and licensed marriage and family therapist. Throughout my career, I have studied how close relationships shape our well-being and helped people better understand connection, support, and belonging.
I created Private Kinship because meaningful relationships do not always arrive in traditional ways. Some people live far from family, have experienced estrangement or loss, are adjusting to a new community, or simply do not have the kind of dependable social connection they would like. Others may want someone supportive beside them for a milestone, holiday, everyday activity, or important transition.
Private Kinship offers another way to experience companionship and connection. Each arrangement is personalized around the client’s circumstances, preferences, and hopes while maintaining clear expectations, mutual consent, and professional boundaries.
Private Kinship is not psychotherapy, counseling, or a substitute for mental health treatment. It is a professional companionship service grounded in respect, transparency, safety, and the belief that thoughtfully created human connections can still be genuine and meaningful.
My Approach
I believe people deserve to feel heard, valued, and supported without being judged for how their relationships are formed. My goal is to create experiences that feel natural and personally meaningful while ensuring that everyone involved understands and agrees to the nature and boundaries of the relationship.
Whether someone is looking for companionship during a difficult season, support at an important event, or the consistency of an ongoing connection, Private Kinship begins by listening carefully to what that person hopes to find.
The Idea of Rental Family
Professional stand-in and rental-family services have operated in Japan for many years. These services connect clients with people who may take on roles such as friends, relatives, companions, or guests at important events.
The concept received wider international attention through the 2025 film Rental Family, starring Brendan Fraser, which explores questions of loneliness, belonging, and whether relationships that begin within a professional arrangement can still become meaningful.
Private Kinship is an independent service and is not affiliated with the film or its creators. Although the Japanese model provides useful context, Private Kinship has its own approach centered on transparency, mutual consent, safety, personalization, and clearly defined professional boundaries.