My T is available M-F from 8 to 5. If I leave her a phone message during those hours she always calls me back if I request it. The clinic is connected w/ the hospital so after hours the message gives the hospital emergency number. I have often called after hours just to hear the answering machine so I feel safe and know eventually she will be there.

Sky said, "Never forget that the patient/client might be testing you to see if you can hold good boundaries."

That is so true. When I was with my former male therapist boundaries felt really blurry--he made me feel like I was special to him and he would call me sometimes just to see how I was doing (once on a Saturday). As much as I loved the attention a part of me was confused and frightened by it as I have a SA history. I don't think I ever felt truly safe with him because there weren't strong clear boundaries and something about it felt vaguely innapropriate. With a female therapist this probably wouldn't have been an issue for me. So I think what Sky said is REALLY IMPORTANT.
* *Just to be clear: My therapist was VERY ETHICAL and appropriate but I needed very firm boundaries and I wasn't able to articulate how the dynamics were affecting me. Also, I'm not saying having a caring, available T is a bad thing but for certain clients it may be better to limit any extra contact.