My ex-husband has been pushing for family therapy in the name of co-parenting. He has used my daughter’s mental health issues to get the therapist’s recommendation for family therapy with him. However, I am concerned that, if I have a family therapy session with him, my mental health will be affected. I feel like I have already dealt with him enough not to be able to let myself heal from the abuse I have endured. Can a judge or can he make the legal system enforce family therapy with him, knowing that it can affect my mental health? Or what can I do to refused to have family therapy with him? He doesn’t even take my daughter to his house. She has been living full time with me since August of 2023, even though we have shared custody.
It’s possible the court could order family therapy. However, there would have to be a pending motion or pending issue before the judge in order for this to happen.
It sounds like you would have evidence to counter such a request for family therapy by being able to explain how it could affect your mental health, your current mental health state, the issues you’ve dealt with in the past with him and how it affected you, etc.
Until then, however, unless your custody order states otherwise, you can decline his request for family therapy.
You may want to consider reunification therapy as an alternative to family therapy.
Anna Ayscue
Attorney with Rosen Law Firm Cary • Chapel Hill • Durham • Raleigh • Wake Forest
Rosen Online | Unlimited confidential access to a North Carolina attorney for $199/mo - click here
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