I don't know that all Ts routinely email and respond to their clients... I bet relatively few use email at all - and when they do it's probably not in a 'therapy' sense, but to communicate appointment times etc. I don't think you're missing out on anything...

Maybe it's only okay to email T if it's not an issue -- like my T will sometimes email me with attached documents she thinks I'll find useful, and I email her back to say thanks... I only ever emailed her one other time because I was in a bit of a crisis and I wasn't going to see her for a few weeks, but I felt guilty about offloading my issues onto her on her time... etc, anyway...

Occasional emails are one thing -- but regular emails, expecting replies, deconstructing those replies, obsessing over them... that's another. Boundaries and blah

I think you already established that the emails weren't always good for you, because you got triggered. I think therapists are very careful about what they write in emails, and they don't always come over like they do in session...

I understand what you're saying about 'getting those feelings out there' -- does this necessarily have to be to T? Does she bring up what you have told her in email in session, and is it of benefit? Is the issue here that you're trying to keep the connection with T alive outside of sessions, or is it the process of writing your feelings down and getting feedback that you desire?

If it's the latter, then how would you feel about sending an email to someone else that you trust, or starting a thread here on the forum - we could all provide super-helpful feedback and support, I'm sure! Or you could write a blog? You could do it anonymously... I dunno, you could even PM me if you like

(@stumpy -- my T doesn't have a sand table, either!)