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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not attend this therapy meeting

108 replies

Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 10:06

DD has mental health issues and one of her regular weekly appointments is family therapy with CAMHS.

This weekend we have had some terrible issues with exDH and her which have seriously affected her recovery. I've tried to talk to him but got nowhere.

The thought of sitting in a room with him saying what a great supportive parent he is makes me utterly furious. I know if I go he will twist things while remaining calm and I will lose my temper.

DD is happy for me not to go. She is planning to just nod along when he is in there but then tell all when she has her time alone with the therapist. I have written a letter to the therapist saying that I'm afraid because of these issues it will just turn into a slanging match in front of DD which won't help her. I have promised to calm down in time for the next meeting and also given her details of DDs progress this week.

AIBU to not go? Should I be able to suck it up and deal with him? I'm usually able to stay calm but this time his behaviour has been horrendous and my every instinct is for her not to see him at all at the moment.

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Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 10:52

I have told them before about the EA but we are supposed to focus on her eating and supporting her as a family.

Or some such waffle.

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HorridHenryrule · 24/05/2017 10:57

How honest is your dd in these meetings try and encourage her to be honest. He will soon get fed up of the meetings and hopefully she will feel a load of her chest. She has to tell the therapist what a shit father he is, how often he sees her, and how he makes her feel. None of this is her fault.

unavita · 24/05/2017 11:02

I had a couple of 'family therapy for one' sessions where I talked to them on my own about things (similar situation to you, daughter with anorexia) 1:1 with a single therapist while a whole enormous CAMHS team observed through the mirror - there were things they needed to know but which couldn't be discussed in front of my daughter. Is this an option?

Ultimately we went on to have amazing family therapy in the ED unit which turned everything around. Also went to peer support meetings with other parents which saved my life, really recommend if available. Nobody else understood the situation quite as well.

Best wishes Flowers it was an incredibly tough few years.

NameChange30 · 24/05/2017 11:06

"I have told them before about the EA but we are supposed to focus on her eating and supporting her as a family."

Whaaat?! So it never occurred to them that his emotional abuse may well be a root cause of the disordered eating?!

FFS. Could you make a complaint? Or maybe get advice from Young Minds or similar? I think they have a parents' helpline.

Lunar1 · 24/05/2017 11:10

If your dd has to go then I really think you should. You need to see firsthand what is said.

Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 11:10

Her psychiatrist and cbt therapist have placed the blame firmly on him. Hence he doesn't attend those appointments. So there are people aware.

His current fury with me is because I won't let him go on holiday with us. Why? Because she doesn't want him to and neither does her therapist or the dr. He refuses to accept that and no doubt will want to bring that up at the meeting today and try and browbeat me into it.

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Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 11:11

I'm not bothered what's said in the room. It will be 30 mins of him bigging himself up and then DD will go in there alone. I've heard all he has to say before. Usually I stay quiet and nod and think pleasant thoughts.

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TrueColors · 24/05/2017 11:15

What a difficult situation. :( What has she said to the therapist? Has she disclosed that he is emotionally abusive and manipulative and that she does not want him there? Also, at her age, she is more than entitled to decline to continue with contact, I'm wondering why she still goes.

Squirmy65ghyg · 24/05/2017 11:15

That's madness. If the psychiatrist and CBT therapist think that, who is the other person and why are they forcing you and her to be in a room with an abusive man?

I'd stop going and tell the professionals exactly why. It's just giving him another way to abuse.

Italiangreyhound · 24/05/2017 11:21

Strawberry I think the thing to focus on here is what is best for your dd and what she thinks will help her the most. Get her to talk to you and make some decisions.

Personally, if he is so abusive to her while you are present I would not allow her to see the therapist with him and without you there. I would say either your dd sees therapist with the pair of you (although this will be bad for you and her so this is really a 'only if there is no other option situation').

But there is another option she sees therapist with you or alone if she can cope (and wishes to do this) or perhaps one time with you and next time alone with therapist.

"Not supporting her eating? Encouraging her to exercise? Ignoring her when she has a panic attack. These are major issues and certainly her regular therapist and dr think they could be enough to stop his contact with her."

Then speak to her and make sure she understands this is what would be best for her, and what you will help her to achieve. Then speak to dr and therapist and arrange for him not to be present in sessions at all.

Sessions will not happen with him in the room. You and dd will not enter room until he is not in it.

Future appointment times and venue will be made with you and he will not be informed when or where they will happen. The dr can inform him that it is not helping his daughter to see in the sessions. If the doctor cannot do this, find someone else who will write that letter so it doesn't have to come from you.

Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 11:22

She sees him because she loves him. Because she desperately wants his approval. It's probably at the root of this. So she's having to deal with her own issues and the fact that he's a shit father. :(

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Italiangreyhound · 24/05/2017 11:27

Strawberry "His current fury with me is because I won't let him go on holiday with us. Why? Because she doesn't want him to and neither does her therapist or the dr. He refuses to accept that and no doubt will want to bring that up at the meeting today and try and browbeat me into it."

Well there is another reason, you don't want to go on holiday with your abusive ex. I have a horrible feeling this is about you.

I totally agree with Squirmy; I had just written He is continuing his abuse of you by using your daughter, IMHO. When I read...

" It's just giving him another way to abuse."

You do need to stop this now. The marriage is over, why the heck would you want to go on holiday. My friend has just separated from her emotionally abusive husband. He is using their kids to get to her, it is heartbreaking, the kids know it, she knows it. It is awful.

He probably needs psychiatrist help himself but this is not your issue. Cut him loose!

"And I'm supposed to sit and watch him portray himself as dad of the year for an hour??"

The session should not in any way be about him, if the therapist is not helping and is not able to stop him from being this arsehole in his dd's presence then I wonder if you can get a referral to a different therapist.

I am sure this is all very, very stressful. My dd has some mild mental health problems and I have been very involved with a friend who has an eating disorder, so I am aware of some of the issues but can only begin to imagine how awful this has been for you. I expect it has affected your mental health and you must look after yourself while still making your dd the priority (tricky to do).

You do not need to tell us but something to think about is, was your ex abusive to your dd? I would say almost certainly by being abusive to you he has, by default, been abusive to her, but there may be more.

I would not allow her to be in a room with him without me, and I would not want him in a room with me! So you need to get your dd to articulate how she feels, record it and pass it on. She clearly doesn't want him there but has maybe been made to feel she should have him there, maybe even that he needs to be there to help her. He is clearly there for his own entertainment which is beyond sick. Please stop him.

As far as next appointment goes I would either call in and say she is ill and you will reschedule appointment but would like to come in and speak to them first, or, simply go and stay quiet, make notes of all the bullshit he spouts and the things the therapist says in response. Then use this information as further ammunition.

I know we only have one side of this but your ex sounds like a sick man, he should not be around any vulnerable child.

VimFuego101 · 24/05/2017 11:32

These sessions don't sound conducive to your daughter's wellbeing at all. As others have said, couples therapy is not recommended when one partner is abusive, so I can't understand why on earth they are making her do this as part of a treatment plan. Your poor DD Flowers

Italiangreyhound · 24/05/2017 11:34

" Because she desperately wants his approval. It's probably at the root of this. So she's having to deal with her own issues and the fact that he's a shit father."

I think the therapy and therapist should be dealing with this ^ and they cannot with him in the room. Sometimes dads (and mums) let their kids down (badly) but you can't move on if someone in the room is bleating out their own version of reality.

Just tread carefully here, get help from someone to convince your dd the way to go. Don't drop out of the session and don't put her in a potion of choosing who to go to therapy with because if she is so desperate for her dad's approval she may choose him.

The fact she is willing to go to therapy with him but not you present (for this one time) is really not a good sign, IMHO.

IMHO you need the professionals to take over here. The plan for her care should be based on her needs and it seems the professionals are not willing to go against this man to help her. She will be an adult soon and able to choose for herself, you need to get the medical professionals to step in now, IMHO.

Italiangreyhound · 24/05/2017 11:34

Sorry have posted heaps, will stop now. I wish you all the best OP.

RandomMess · 24/05/2017 11:41

Perhaps your DD would rather you argued in that relatively safe environment and see you draw that line in the sand? Perhaps if it goes ahead the Only comment you make is that he shouldn't be using the session to abuse you and no he is not welcome on holiday.

Perhaps you should start the session with how you think it is detrimental to DD...

RandomMess · 24/05/2017 11:43

Fuming on your behalf!!!!

LeavesBlowingInTheWind · 24/05/2017 11:56

I too have had to attend Family Therapy for my teenage daughter with a 'difficult' STBXH so Flowers and Wine from me!
My marriage was going down the toilet long before DD became ill but it just highlighted the differences between us. He would turn up to family therapy all happy and smiling, nod in the right places but wasn't so good at supporting DD at home.

CAMHS therapist was well aware of what was going on and would say that she only needed to see DD and me at the next appt. But it was very difficult and I had to grit my teeth on many occasions.

Although I completely understand what you are going through, I think you just have to suck it up for the sake of your DD. Perhaps your DD could see the therapist on her own on this occasion and therapist could phone/email you later?

Its hard enough dealing with an eating disorder without fuckwittery from 'D'Hs!!
My DD is now in recovery and doing ok. She sees STBXH very occasionally but it's on her terms as she is better able to recognise his inability to put her needs first.
Handhold from me

whatsthefuckingwrongwithyou · 24/05/2017 11:58

I think if your daughter is really mentally unwell then it's very unfair to put her in a position where she has to suppress her feelings and "nod along", without anyone there on her side.

I know this is hard for you, but you need to take some control back and speak to the therapist like an adult, rather than abandoning your ill DD.

erinaceus · 24/05/2017 12:05

I am surprised that you, your DD and your DH are expected to be in session together. Who specifically sets this expectation? Does your DD find the sessions helpful?

lougle · 24/05/2017 12:23

How can this be helpful? Does anyone challenge him when he is spouting his nonsense?

Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 14:43

I haven't gone. I asked DD and she was clear she did not want me there. In her words she wants to watch him dig a massive hole for himself talking of his support when the therapist knows he barely helps. In fact he wasn't at last week's meeting as he was on holiday because he is so stressed from dealing with this!!

He isn't allowed in other therapy sessions (I am) as they have the measure of him.

And I do think in some ways he is trying to get at me. But lots of the things he says (e.g. Crying and begging her not to die, saying everytime he looks at her he sees her in a coffin) are to her when I'm not there. It's v traumatising for her.

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Squirmy65ghyg · 24/05/2017 14:44

That is fucking awful. Why does DD have to go to this session? I don't understand.

Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 14:46

DD finds the bits alone at these sessions okay. Sometimes her little sister comes too and they are quite fun then, nothing like a little one to speak bluntly! But she's very much aware that she goes to be checked and so she can access a hospital bed quickly if needs be. She needs to be "in the system" so to speak.

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Strawberryshortcake40 · 24/05/2017 14:47

Oh he doesn't say that kind of thing in sessions! He's not that stupid.

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