I once sat in court as a Judge awarded sole legal custody to one parent because the other parent refused to agree to change the child's school after a counselor suggested it would be better for the child to attend the other school. I don't know all the details of why, but I was surprised such a drastic order was made... I suppose that parent may have been difficult for sometime but it seems the court looked at the decision to refuse something beneficial to the child was enough to go from joint legal to sole legal.

I'm glad you were able to get into counseling despite BM's refusal to sign. Hopefully it will help your situation get better. Good luck!

I am surprised that counsellors would require a second parent to sign anything. when DD went to counselling, nobody asked what her dad thinks about it. Nobody even asked who has custody. I Just signed her up. In fact I didn't sign anything either. I called to make an appointment and then discussed insurance payment, that was it. Nobody asked if I give a permission for counseling. In fact when I called, i could be anybody, not even a parent.

Does it depend on kids' age? DD was a minor but not that young. It seems that my expereinces with children's counselling differ from everybody's.

It is not the first time when same topic comes around and I feel surprised...

Oh well, learn something new every day hey?? :-)

learn about what?

"I am surprised that counsellors would require a second parent to sign anything." So now you know,some therapists do. Others don't.

"I am surprised that counsellors would require a second parent to sign anything."

liesbeth,

I'm surprised too. We didn't even find out until recently that SDs had gone to therapy for several years with BM after she divorced her 2nd husband.

Wish you luck!

I think FD has a relatively civil relationship with her X. And I have never been asked by a doctor to get X to sign off on it.

I see, liesbeth. I think maybe if kids are seeing counsellors due to a conflict in a family: dealing with divorce, relationship within a family etc then maybe then other parent has to be involved or give permissions...I assume that if BM was encouraged to participate, then it is a family type counselling. DD's counselling was absolutelly not family related and completelly personal. There was no need for either parent to give permission (beyond agreeing to pay for it) and certainly not to participate.

Also in your situation, kids live with mom, mom has custody, their address is at moms, so her permission probably makes sense. DD's address was the same as mine, so it was obvious she lived wiht me. Nobody even asked if dad lives at the same address.

We have shared custody and shared parental responsibility, BM does not have sole custody anymore. However she does have skids 65% and we have 35%.

So before you guys get all confused again; we do have shared custody and we also have shared care. However the shared care is not 50-50 but 65-35.

Yesterday BM got the call from the counselor, she's very angry and FDH needs to be punished, of course. So also yesterday it was SD12's first day at high school. FDH tried to ring her last night, but the home phone was switched off and once SD's mobile started ringing it was cut off as well. It's the usual punishment, FDH can't talk to his kids when they are with BM. Pffff. Predictable, but still annoying.

Totally off topic here...but why is SD12 starting high school? In February?

Just curious....

Oh, and BTW..I'm sorry it's been so difficult for you and your SD. Hoping for calmer days ahead. Sounds like that shared care time needs to be flip-flopped!!!

We are in Australia so the new year has just started. Summer holidays have just finished, and it's bloody hot overhere!!

I'm ready for some "bloody hot" weather! I'm freezing my arse off here! O

Our school year starts in September.

35% is 2.45 days a week at dads. they might have shared custody but kids live with mom and visit dad.