He thought I was meaning that he would have to go back to counseling & got a bit irritated (he is adamant of not repeating that painful experience after he feels he got burned after going through all that & I have said I would not ask him to go again). I explained that I wasn't implying counseling when I said work... Then I said- Well I am not asking you to go back to counseling nor will I ask... I'm sorry if I gave you that indication that I was going in that direction.
I would have encouraged you not to paint yourself into any corners. Are you REALLY okay with never being able to enlist the help of a good MC to help you two guys? It's always best to leave all options on the table, like:
"Well I can't push you to do something you're not comfortable with. I can only let you know what *I* need in the relationship, and I'm not saying I'll never need the help of a good, mutually-agreeable MC for us to talk to and help us, but if you're not comfortable with that right now, I'll drop it."
