
Quoting
aardvarc
Just out of curiousity, why must there BE any "side of a story"? Most counseling sessions DON'T include the parents - it defeats the entire purpose of most counseling, which it to give the child a neutral third party to discuss issues with - no matter WHAT the issue (in other words, what makes you ASSUME that the counseling is about YOU or something that you need to be defensive about)? The reality is that most children, being egocentric, even well into their early 20's, find reasons why whatever is happening between their parents is THEIR fault (the child's fault), and this is where counseling can be invaluable to the child. Children can't discuss things like anger, feelings of abandonment, uncertainty, and all the issues they're exposed to from their parents WITH their parents, without being naturally FORCED to take sides. Involving parents in the counseling only serves to REINFORCE to the child that they've got to pick sides.