Tkx, fkm, I really appreciate your take on the safety/boundary aspects. In the past my body worker T and I discussed nonverbal signs I could use if work got too intense and I couldn't verbalize saying stop. That's for the painful therapeutic work. When she uses maternal type touch it's always been okay with me. Sometimes she will still briefly touch my arm or leg or convey something empathetic with her voice or body, esp after I disclose something difficult. It makes me feel so safe.

Also your idea to discuss it in T is a really good one. However I am wayyyy too chicken **** to even discuss it there, cause then indirectly I would be asking T to do the same thing when I am upset. I know she doesn't like touching ppl.... sooo.... aak. Maybe what I need is to find a T who is willing to work with touch to help ground their clients .... and if I have that, then I can discuss it with that T more easily (since I think I need to find a different T anyway).