I don't think it is unprofessional in and of itself. I do think there are therapists who have really loose boundaries and allow too much contact, then when they realize their lack of boundaries is creating problems, they backtrack and create more issues for their clients. THAT is unprofessional.

I have always had out-of-session contact ability with my therapists and psychiatrists, but they were professionally boundaried about that contact which, for me, allowed it to work without it ever causing problems on either end.

None of them used email or text messaging for contact, and I agree with that boundary. Too many miscommunications seem to hover around that kind of contact because there is really no way to put actual limits on it. If a client decides they want to impulsively send 10 emails or texts in one day, there is nothing to stop them, which often ends up with the scenario that the T has to put limits on what was at one time an unlimited means of communication, creating anger and confusion on the part of the client.

My T and pdoc were always available by phone call. I could call during office hours and leave a message and they always returned calls within a few hours, and after hours I could contact them via their answering service -- again, they always returned calls promptly. It was a boundaried availability in that it wasn't that idea that I could contact that them any time I wanted to and expect immediate attention. Texts and emails often give people that illusion that the people on the receiving end should respond very quickly. I've been on the receiving end of that expectation from parents of students who had an expectation that I would respond right away and got angry if I didn't -- not fun. I also have found actual phone conversations are rarely a point of contention because we can hear each other's voice inflection, ask immediate questions, and have a real conversation in real time.

That is my personal opinion on outside contact. Others will say it is still too restrictive or old-school, but one thing I've learned about technology is that is has sometimes created unnecessary problems that just muddy the waters.