Therapists cannot be friends. Being too emotionally attached as a therapist will disrupt their objectivity. The clients long for that friendship, but in the end, the therapist having the boundaries is for the best. I know to the client it seems painful, but if those boundaries are crossed they will have to end the therapist-client relationship.

My social worker, when I was 16, shook my hand twice. Beginning treatment and terminating treatment. It hurt. I wished she'd of given me a hug at the end of treatment, but she didn't. Some therapists just don't give hugs. It may be *their* issues and feel the need for that firm boundary of no contact.

If I were you, I'd ask her about it.