NOT NORMAL AND NOT OKAY!!

I'm frankly quite horrified! He should have informed you ASAP when you placed your hand on his crotch, instead of letting it remain there while getting aroused by it. A normal hug is okay, but this is crossing the line to the point of no return. Even if you were both straight and of the same gender undergoing "re-parenting", the therapy should not involve this sort of touching. (What parent touches their child like that?)

You're right in saying that it sounds like a romantic hug. I don't think a good T with proper boundaries will rub the back/hair of a client of the opposite sex and allow him/her to lay in his/her lap. My T has never touched me and we are both straight females (she is married with a son and about 20 years older).

The texting about general conversation also sounds iffy! I would never think to chat with my T about pop culture like I would with friends and neither would she entertain me if I tried. If she texts me to check on how I am and I replied negatively, she would ask why and then direct me to discuss this in greater detail the next session.

I want to add that it may feel comforting now but he seems like he has an ulterior motive and is exploiting you for his own needs. If you do not stop this abusive relationship now you'll in for some major therapy trauma later. Just my two cents and good luck with seeking a new T!!

**Please know that this isn't your fault AT ALL. You placed your trust in the hands of someone who's supposed to protect you and act in your best interests but he betrayed this trust. HE is the one who needs to take full responsibility for his unprofessional and unethical behaviour. It's great that you recognised the wrongness of the situation and reached out here for help. We're all behind you and want to support you through this.

Like someone else mentioned, report him to his higher-ups if you can. He's likely to have done this before and will continue doing so at the expense of other victims.