I went to a therapist for 7 years. It helped for self esteem. But we had very strong boundaries. Anything she did not bring up about her life was off limits, and I respected my t's boundaries and she respected mine. Maybe I'm a relic of a distant age, but she never hugged me, etc. The most physical contact we ever had was when I saw her at her summer cottage, when she gave me a couple of home grown squash.

Sorry to be a dissenting voice here.