Articles like this are a bit tricky because the Therapist is talking about a client who may or may not have serious body/touch or attachment issues we don't know about. I'm not a believer in absolutes, especially when it comes to Freud's ideas on most anything involving affection (ugh don't get me started.) It seems like therapists should be able to play it on a case by case basis. Sometimes there are reasons to analyze the need for a hug, sometimes a hug is just a hug. Some people have other resources outside of session, others don't.

In the family I grew up in, hugs were always available, over almost any other kind of emotional communication. My parents couldn't talk about our feelings but hugs were always an option. To a fault.

The first time my T and I had a hug, my therapist was the one to offer it. I don't even remember what the session was about, something hard, I think. It felt natural but I didn't expect it.
The second time, it was my initiative on the way out the door, I turned back and said, "okay I'll have a hug"- more or less without asking. My T was standing there as if she was open to a hug - so I took it. THAT hug I'll never forget because it was quite long. I actually had let go but then she didn't. I just kind of laughed and said, "Okay, long hug then.." and brought my hands back up to hang on a couple seconds more. She held me until my shoulders relaxed. That was kind of an amazing experience.

We've hugged a couple of times since then but always when I ask and I often don't because I'm a little self-conscious now. I feel like there has to be an 'excuse' or some kind of emotional session. It seems like a resource I don't want to overuse that privilege if that's really a thing.

For the record, I was talking with my Personal T about our Couples Counselor and I said "I wanted to just hug her... (The CC)" and my T said, "You could always just ask." I understood that to mean the same with her as well. I think knowing that I can have a hug when I need one had relaxed that need.