I guess I'm puzzled as to how hugs is OK but a pat on the arm, or brief arm around the shoulder = sexual ("girlfriend like"). Prolonged arm around shoulder maybe I can see that, but not brief.

A pat on the arm, brief arm around the shoulder is less intimate than a hug to me. They're all friend like, already.

My T and I progressed from a pat on the arm or knee, to hugs after a discussion. Now sometimes she briefly puts an arm around me during a hug.

I'm so sorry your T has conveyed he's not OK with the touch you're asking about. I'm glad he's not taking hugs away. I'm puzzled at him not being OK with the touch you're asking about.

Some (in my opinion, more unorthodox therapists) T's hold client's hand, some touch feet, some even snuggle clients and stroke client's hair.

Personally for me, I needed touch because I believed so strongly that "I am too disgusting to touch".