Recently, our 8 year old daughter was seen by her counsellor and the parents were informed that the child had begun to internalize the parental conflict. We were informed that the child was holding herself responsible for the parental conflict and that this would not only impact her well being now but would affect her future relationships.
Meetings took place individually with both parents. Family therapy was recommended and agreed upon by all parties as the best way forward.
In order to provide a safe place for this to take place, both parties were asked and agreed to sign a contract agreeing not to use anything that took place in the therapy or involve the service provider in any future litigation. Parties were encouraged to get legal counsel before signing this contract. Both parties signed the contract.
Counselling was supposed to take place once a month with the parents alternating beginning this week. At the last minute the child's father decided to withdraw his consent and now the family therapy has been suspended. He has not provide any reason for withdrawing.
The counsellor has consequently agreed to provide support around other issues related to daughter's special needs and advocating at school, but she will not be providing our daughter with any support around the parental conflict without both parents participating in the therapy.
To state that I am pissed off is an understatement.
The Family Therapy would have been of great benefit to our daughter not least in making her realize that the parental conflict is NOT her fault. I think it would have also strengthened the relationship between her and her dad. The sessions would have been confidential and neither parent would/could have used what transpired in any litigation. So, I am trying to figure out what he felt he had to lose by agreeing to attend one session every two months with his daughter?
Meetings took place individually with both parents. Family therapy was recommended and agreed upon by all parties as the best way forward.
In order to provide a safe place for this to take place, both parties were asked and agreed to sign a contract agreeing not to use anything that took place in the therapy or involve the service provider in any future litigation. Parties were encouraged to get legal counsel before signing this contract. Both parties signed the contract.
Counselling was supposed to take place once a month with the parents alternating beginning this week. At the last minute the child's father decided to withdraw his consent and now the family therapy has been suspended. He has not provide any reason for withdrawing.
The counsellor has consequently agreed to provide support around other issues related to daughter's special needs and advocating at school, but she will not be providing our daughter with any support around the parental conflict without both parents participating in the therapy.
To state that I am pissed off is an understatement.
The Family Therapy would have been of great benefit to our daughter not least in making her realize that the parental conflict is NOT her fault. I think it would have also strengthened the relationship between her and her dad. The sessions would have been confidential and neither parent would/could have used what transpired in any litigation. So, I am trying to figure out what he felt he had to lose by agreeing to attend one session every two months with his daughter?
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