I have emailed a couple times with the specific intent of reinforcing our connection, and I state something along those lines explicitly in the email. Just getting a response is often satisfying enough in those cases.

Usually though, I'm writing to convey information about something significant that's happened or to relate an insight that's occurred to me, so we can delve right into those waters at the next session. Fifty minutes once a week is so short that I feel compelled to supplement it if I can.

Yes, her responses often sound stilted and overly formal--not like our in-person interactions. I expect this though because in my hmo emails are not confidential as in just being between the two of us. They become a part of my medical record, and any health care worker in the system can access my emails. I've often felt conflicted over using them for this reason, but I just kinda decided convenient communication w/ my T on a regular basis outweighs my privacy. If someone wants to look, they can have at it.