The therapist my SD12 sees is completely shady af.  Chosen by the BM unilaterally after ditching the previous one, the WTF moments abound!  SD has been seeing this therapist since June of 2021.

In October 2021, SD was suspended from school after bringing a knife and threatening kids.  She spent 7 days in a crisis hospital for homicidal ideation, and talked about self harm (cutting).  She was severely depressed, living with her BM and her parents (who are also toxic af).  BM never returned her to school, and SD was expelled.  Zero communication from BM about alternate schooling.  BF contacted the therapist to confirm she was working with BM to get SD back in school, and also asked for her opinion on if having SD attend school by him was in SD best interest.  Therapist advised she thought the change might be too much.  Later that evening, in a telephone call with SD, she accused her dad of trying to take her away from her mom and therapist.  Documentation we received from the school has letters from the therapist, only addressed to BM and school.  BM enrolls SD in new school fall of 2022 - BF doesn't find out where until he talks to his daughter on the first day she attends.

BF continues to check in with the therapist on how SD is doing.  January 2023, she gives a glowing report on SD progress.  SD and BF relationship is probably the best it has been since the divorce was final, but SD casually asks about "upcoming schedule changes" and about not seeing her dad as much.  The next day, BM files motion for sole custody and to suspend placement with BF.  Relationship was too good for BM apparently.  BM's motion includes a lot of "per her current therapist" language, basically citing things being disclosed to her by the therapist.  BF requests the therapists records.  Therapist sends a letter to both attorneys, BM, and the court stating she will not release the records - that SD has requested "extra layers of confidentiality" and that she feels the release of her records will cause more harm to SD.  When confronted by BF's attorney about what she has told BM, she tells the attorney she is "not a finder of fact."

BF and I talk to SD about her social media accounts (not anything terribly upsetting, just posting about her mom and dad) and blocked her dad, which isn't allowed.  SD says that is where she goes to "vent" so we discussed more appropriate places to vent....like her therapist.  Also reminded her it is ok to tell her dad whats bothering her, to which she replied "[therapist] said i should only vent to her and my mom." - BF confronted therapist about this.  Of course therapist denied telling SD that.

GAL conducts her investigation.  Informs both attorneys that she will be recommending that nothing changes in regards to placement/custody.  That same week SD calls BF to tell him she does not want to come see him for his placement weekend.  BF offers a switch, and she is adamant about not going.  BF stands firm that she will be seeing him on his placement weekend.  The Thursday before, SD calls BF (this time during her scheduled therapy session) and again requests to not see her dad.  She is calling him by his first name, which he shuts down immediately.  She is says things that the GAL had told the attorneys. SD becomes distraught, claiming how much she hates it there and has always hated it there, and abruptly ends the conversation.

Friday morning he reaches out via email separately to the GAL, his attorney and the therapist to inform them all of this phone call and his concerns.  The therapist responds saying she has concerns about SD mental health and that she will be sending a letter to all parties shortly.  The letter to everyone states that SD spend 3.5 hours with her on Thursday after the phone call, and threatened to harm herself if she had to go by her dad, and if she ever had to see him again.  She recommended suspending placement with BF until she can get to the bottom of the problem.  BF was never contacted by BM or therapist about this crisis care.  Barely 5 minutes after this bombshell letter is dropped, BM sends an OFW message to BF, begging and pleading for BF to consider the well being of their child.  I strongly recommend to have an emergency mental health hold put on SD, but he ultimately chose to relinquish his placement time.

BM, SD and therapist go radio silent for the following week.  After emailing the therapist a couple times, she replies that SD is processing "different memories coming to the surface" and that these things seem to have been bothering her for "a long time"  BF replies to this with his concerns about these "new memories" and requests that the therapist contact him regarding things about BM and their marriage.  He has yet to receive a replay to this email.  Allowing SD to tell stories unchecked seems really poisonous to me!!!!  BF also reached out to BM on OFW, requesting she help facilitate a positive relationship with SD, and asks how SD is doing.  BM replied that she will not "force SD to do anything she doesn't want to" and that BF should reach out to the therapist for information regarding SD.  This is all like.....textbook alienation stuff here, right??!

BF talks to the GAL, who was away on vacation while all this was going on.  She tells BF none of his concerns are lost on her, but I don't know what that means.  She also talked to the therapist, who told the GAL she hasn't gotten to the bottom of SD problems (really??!!) yet....the GAL is hesitant to re-interview SD without the go-ahead from the therapist.  As far as we know there is no court-order suspending placement, only this therapist recommendation to suspend placement.  BF placement weekend is coming up, and I feel like he should make is intentions known that he will see his daughter this weekend......I think he isn't going to though.

Thanks for letting me rant.....this therapist seems totally unprepared to deal with the BM and her tactics to alienate SD from her dad!  Anyone have any luck defeating a therapist like this, who seems to have all the power....and very well could be complicate in these alienation tactics.....or worse.....conspiring with the BM.  This child is quickly learning how to manipulate EVERYONE around her and its terrifying to watch!!  I am losing hope that she will ever be a happy, healthy, normal productive member of society if this keeps up!!!