Hi there! I have two thoughts - one is to just ask your current T about what other Ts might be open to touch, like hugging. I would also try emailing several in your area and just explain your circumstance to them. I sure wish mine would hug, so I'm way jealous!!

Best wishes,
Starry

MissingLink,

You are in a tough spot though I know why it's so important to have a therapist who will hug and why you'd want to find out ahead of time if they do before spending years with someone only to find out later that they don't.

Starrynights made some really good suggestions. Good luck with your search and let us know how it goes.

Liese

A somatic experiencing (SEP) T integrates touch in their work (though the level to which is variable) - it's not a holding type therapy and I'm sure some SEP therapist don't necessarily hug but it's a touch approach. I have a somatic therapist that uses a lot of touch in her approach which I find very comforting and healing and then I have another therapist who doesn't not touch much, she gives a hug at the end of each session and sometimes does some energy work but otherwise she doesn't touch me much she just doesn't seem the type she doesn't want to "interrupt someone's process" where my other T will hold my hand sometimes. Anyway, SEP Ts work with touch. And I like Starry's suggestion of just asking upfront what a T believes as far as touch goes - I also think that a T who touches you from the very beginning might not be safe but that's just me, I'd be freaked out if someone started touching me right away they need to earn a lot of trust before I can let them near.

If I ever did need to find a new T, I would now know that this is just a question (no matter how awkward) I need to ask up front, whether they are OK with touch. A lot of T's will do a quick phone interview with you before making you come in for a session, so it may be that you could get that question out of the way before meeting if not having it is a deal killer.

I'm sorry you're losing your T and having to start looking again. (((missing)))

It is really important for you and I would definitely ask any potential T's what their policy is.

Someone posted a list of questions to ask potential T's a while back - maybe search for that and it might have some other ideas for you.

Good luck. I am so sorry your T is retiring - that is one of my worst fears.
Somedays