When you walk into court-ordered counseling expecting support—and find yourself at odds with the therapist’s approach—it can feel like everything is working against your goals. In this episode, This Isn’t What I Asked For, we explore the tension that can arise when a parent’s expectations don’t align with the counselor’s role or the court’s intention.

We dive into the different types of counseling often ordered in family court, including:

Family therapy

Co-parenting counseling

Reunification therapy

Individual therapy

We unpack common misalignments, such as:

Expecting advocacy from the therapist vs. their neutral role

A resistant child vs. the court’s reunification goals

Confusion around blame and responsibility

The financial burden of mandated services

You'll learn how to navigate these challenges by:

Setting clear expectations from the start

Defining the court order in writing

Building rapport with the therapist

Looping in your attorney when needed

Prioritizing transparency and your child’s best interest

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