I am not a fan of therapists challenging someone's experience by throwing out other alternatives to their perception. For one thing, they don't know all the players, and it's assuming the worst of a client to think they've got it wrong. I keep thinking of my therapist telling me that the reason my sister and her husband recoiled from me and my dog was not because they hated me--only to have to tell her some time later the slurs they use against me. And she also tried to tell me that another relative wanted to be a friend...until she finally saw over time that the relative just likes to control things and stir up drama. I just say this because they are not always right in their perceptions, and playing devil's advocate with someone who is hurting or upset is not a winning strategy in my opinion. I don't understand why it's so hard for them to just be understanding and let the person work through their thoughts and feelings about a situation without being told what or how to view it. Some of us have grown up being told that what we think and feel isn't true or valid. It's a re-enactment to go into therapy and get the same.