but fundamentally it seems a "marriage" counselor ought to be pro marriage for God's sake...
As I said I hope so as well. The first time we went he did right off the bat have us write down our goals or things we wanted to change in our marriage.
That seems pretty solution based, pro marriage.
I just don't know if he thinks the most important thing for any person is to be self-actualized and if one person in a marriage wants out the other should except it and move on.
He has made a lot of comments to me during my sessions about "What if" she wants D. Not sure if he was preparing me for worst, or (He knew W was going to ask for D) was preparing me to give up.
I guess a phone call wouldn't hurt?
M 33 W 29 S 4 M 5 T 7 11/7/11 Separation, W moves in with parents 12/1/11 W: "IDLY, I'm not coming back, it's over" 1/7/12 D Bomb Dropped
phone calls don't hurt if you're not weird or pesky...
I think the what if questions are fine imo. I often do them b/c a LOT of LBSers won't even go there and then if and when it gets to court
they are not just behind the curve on the emotional path but also on the legal path and in an effort to smooth the way for a recon they give up things for the kids or themselves that they might not have otherwise.
But let's not get ahead of ourselvves....PLUS
if all the 180s or GAL things you are now doing would stop if you were to be divorced
that would mean the changes are merely tactics...make sense?
So make the changes YOU need/want anyhow for your life to improve, &
prepare for the worst while hoping for the best...
and keep the road home, paved and smooth.
((( )))
M: 57 H: 60 M: 35 yrs S30,D28,D19 H off to Alaska 2006 Recon 7/07- 8/08 *2016* X = "ALASKA 2.0" GROUND HOG DAY I File D 10/16 OW DIV 2/26/2018 X marries OW 5/2016
I decided against the phone call to MC, I really don't think it matters at this point, if I cancel appointment its the same as if the MC is pro marriage.
Other than sitting back and listening to what W says, when I am asked for my input I was thinking of asking MC at session:
I want to know in your professional opinion if we continue to get individual counseling and couples counseling do we have a chance? Can we work this out?
I would think if he says yes in front of W, W might actually listen to MC and put an effort in trying to make things work.
Obviously the reverse could happen if he says no, and would put the finishing nails into the coffin. Good idea or bad idea?
M 33 W 29 S 4 M 5 T 7 11/7/11 Separation, W moves in with parents 12/1/11 W: "IDLY, I'm not coming back, it's over" 1/7/12 D Bomb Dropped
What if she feels ambushed? The MC can say anything and if W doesn't believe it, she doesn't believe it. If MC says there is a chance she may just decide to show you both how wrong you are. You're still trying to control her and you seemingly don't respect what she says.
Do your read any other threads here? Mr Bond and 25yrmlc have both posted some very powerful stuff over the last few days. Check it out.
I think your best bet is to just listen and learn.
Me 57/H 58 M36 S 2.5yrs R 12/13
Let me give up the need to know why things happen as they do. I will never know and constant wondering is constant suffering. Caroline Myss
I want to know in your professional opinion if we continue to get individual counseling and couples counseling do we have a chance? Can we work this out?
I think that would be a lot of pressure on her.
If he responds yes, then all the pressure would be put on her to find away to do that. It would put a lot of guilt on her for doing what she felt she had to do.
I think she would feel as ambushed as Custer did in the Black Hills....
You have a great opportunity in front of you to learn what is going through her mind.
Put on your blue leisure suit, splash on some Brut 33 , sit and really listen to her dude....
Count to 10 ( ah crap, your from PA....count to three, three times-close enough- ) before you respond : ), and really think before you speak.
You appear to be putting way too much power on this one session.
You should worry about planting a seed before you harvest the crop.....