Mouse, I would like to see the article too. Can you give the link?
I'm sorry you want a hug and can't get it. I agree, if it were me, I would not find talking about why I want a hug to be helpful at all. I would either want the hug or not want to talk about it if I couldn't get it. I don't think discussing that topic would be helpful or therapeutic to me. But hey, that's just me.
I have had a few hugs from my T. They come at the end of particularly intense sessions. But usually we have no contact, and I am OK with that. I feel our rare hugs are a physical manifestation of the closeness we have felt in session. They feel "right" to me. It does not feel like they are to replace affection and comfort I never received as a child (i.e. they are not transferential). I'm not sure my T would give that kind of hug.
I guess a lot depends on the T's therapeutic approach as well as his/her personality and his/her assessment of the client's needs. It sounds like your T's analytic training does not allow her to include hugs in her therapy. But she is caring in so many other ways. I hope that can be enough.