Threads like this make me love my T. I tried therapy 3x before this with 4 different therapists. I didn't last past 5 sessions with any of them. But here I am almost a year in with this T. She gets me. She knows I need connection in between sessions. It is vital for me. She responds to every text and email (briefly). Even if I send a text that says "do you have a pet?" She answers the same day. Yet she is professional, consistent, kind, and nurturing. Now that I know there are therapists out there like her and therapists out there that can meet my needs.....I would not settle. If for some reason I had to get a new T, outside contact would be a requirement for me. I didn't even know that was an option before her. Now that I know therapists do that and do it in a helpful way, I would want nothing less. State what you need, want, and why. Your T has a right to respond how they feel comfortable responding but you have a right to shop around. Different T's are open to different things.