I've had to change therapists 4 times over the last 6 years with moving. Each relationship has had hugs after an initial times. When one relationship ended it was always a question - when will the new therapist and I start to hug? My last therapist, I straight out asked in our first session - do you hug your clients? If she'd said no, I'd have kept on looking. I've noticed that the hugs become more meaningful with time. Particularly my current therapist, the first time she hugged me (mabye 2 months into our relationship), it was quick and forced almost and I was thinking, wow that's the best you got? As time has gone on, our hugs have become deeper and last for longer and more meaningful. I think it's cool how the hugs parallel the development of the relationship.

For me, like several others have said, a hug represents: "I understand you, I love and care about you despite your imperfections, and I'm not going anywhere." They are enormously important to my therapy relationships. BUT, hugs don't replace words as they say these words aloud to me too. Hugs are just another way of expressing them to me/reinforce these messages to someone who has trouble sometimes trusting and believing words. I find that I am more verbal with my feelings because I can physically *feel* our connection. This is important to me.