Yeah marriage counseling isn’t recommended in a situation of abuse as it often makes it worse. It sounded as he really wanted to get better though so it was worth trying, but if he wastes previous therapy time on a chit chat and bonding with a therapist, getting better isn’t his priority.

He managed to charm this therapist. I also don’t think that the same therapist could be individual and couples therapist. Maybe i am wrong but isn’t he also seeing this t individually? So if that’s the case, therapist is loyal to the husband. It’s also very likely he tells therapist things about you. So whatever you tell therapist holds no value as therapist already got skewed vision of events from the husband. It’s lose lose situation.