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almeda24fan said:
I have always thought and still do that therapists can disclose emotions, give a hug and/or move themselves very close to the person and do all of this at the right time, and can still maintain boundaries.

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Yes, absolutely! I think not all are able to do this, though, because of their personalities or because some theoretical approaches do not allow for this (e.g. the blank slate of the analyst) or because certain clients might not welcome this or be able to handle it (they must know and gauge the client well). I think there can be very effective therapists who don't do those things, and very effective who do. The client has to seek what works best for him, and sometimes even if the therapist they end up with doesn't use the client's preferred mode all the time, sometimes what they do is "good enough." I know you long for more sometimes from your therapist, almedafan. In some ways, though, he seems really good--how he handled some of your joint sessions with family members, wow. It can be hard to find the "whole package" that one wants in any one therapist.