I had a disastrous experience....my ExDH got his story in first, and the counsellor took his side immediately. I didn't build any kind of relationship with her....she used to spend every session sympathising with him, and I could never get a word in edgeways. Like many abusers, he has an utterly charming side too, and she completely fell for it. One time he was moaning that I didn't like him going for 'a pint' on a Friday after a week of hard work) even to the point of saying that if he thought him going for a drink would lead to an argument, maybe it would be better if he didn't come home at all on Fridays!!! ????????
I put up with it for 3 months, then snapped at one session and told her the reason I didn't like him going for 'a pint' was because it was usually 8-10 pints, and he was a nasty abusive drunk, who'd not stop drinking until he fell down, usually around 2-3am. I also mentioned that the previous weekend, this had happened, he'd come home, dragged me out of bed to clean up where he'd pissed all over the landing carpet then when I'd refused, tried to push me down the stairs. She paled and asked if there'd ever been domestic violence in the marriage before....when I replied "yes" she asked why I hadn't mentioned it and I said "Because you took his side immediately and never asked me ANYTHING!!" She literally blanched, threw a load of Women's Aid leaflets at me and couldn't get out of there quick enough.
She was utterly shit, and I haven't heard any decent first hand reports from anyone else I know that have been, either.
(It took a further 6 years to pluck up the courage to leave him, btw.)
As you can probably tell, I'm still pretty riled by the experience!