I’m a hugger. I come from a very huggy family. So hugs are very natural, common, and easy for me. My therapists and I hugged pretty regularly without it ever even coming up in conversation. I guess they sensed it was sort of a natural thing for me and it just was what it was. No big meaning or need for discussion. I can see how it can be a bigger issue or even a bad idea for some though.

Touch was different though. If I was dissociated particularly, my therapists were very careful to ask me before they touched me in any way.

I think that is the dilemma therapists have to negotiate. Will the touch be natural and not loaded with issues? Or is it helpful but needs discussion because of issues? Or is it harmful? Every client is quite individual. And, it can even vary for an individual client depending on the circumstances.

I suspect some therapists put a firm no touch boundary up to just not have to negotiate the issues, but I have found that my good therapists knew how to work with me and knew when it was fine and when they needed to navigate touch more carefully.