I agree with what you wrote about the psychotherapy forum, pinksoil. There are more ways of being supportive than giving hugs (although we have those here too in this forum!) and sometimes just sharing of information is supportive in and of itself. I have learned so much from reading about others' psychotherapy experiences. Sometimes it validates my own experience because it makes me feel like I am not weird after all. Other times it gives me new ideas for things to try or bring up in therapy. And I must admit, sometimes it makes me feel deficient because of certain things lacking in my psychotherapy. But I think those feelings are ones that promote growth, and they don't make me feel unsupported, just challenged.

But I still like the hugs too!