Your therapist FORCED you to hug her? SO not cool! Nobody should force anybody for any type of physical contact, ever! I can understand wanting to work through this issue, but it should be at your pace and not because other people are forcing you. One thing you can do is give that wave of the hand when you first meet someone. This gives the message that you aren't interested in hugging. Or, you can stick out your hand for a handshake before they move in for a hug. Again, this gives the message that you don't want to hug. Some people are huggy, and some are not. Some of the RUDE huggy people think that everyone wants to hug and they have no regard for anyone else's personal space. Don't let them railroad you with their desires for a hug. If they are your friends, they will understand that you just don't like hugs.