We are older and my stbx has a number of issues. We are trying to save the marriage but I suspect we will end up in divorce. I really don't think my stbx is going to try very hard with this marriage counselor.

At any rate my stbx's MO is to be controlling and manipulative. He has picked a marriage counselor that he agrees to go to. He wrote to the marriage counselor to say that that his first wife cheated on him, and his second most loved angel and saint of the earth wife died. (This is his attempt to come across as a tragic figure and elicit sympathy and support from the therapist).

He then went on to say that he has done a lot of introspection and he realizes that his biggest problem is that he doesn't listen to what his wife wants him to be. (So this is his attempt at giving the therapist a the diagnosis that my stbx wants, so he has little to no work to do).

We have not even hired this marriage counselor yet. We are just at the point of asking if he covers our insurance. So this email is more than precipitous.

A friend has told me that this was done. And the friend said that the only thing my stbx said was that the therapist thanked him for the email.

Would you feel comfortable going to a therapist that accepts this type of email before even meeting both parties? I'm very concerned that this therapist might be easily manipulated by my stbx.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.