[WebMama]

Hi, I am new here. DH and I have just started to look into a Chinese adoption and we were looking over the paperwork sent to us by the agency. One of the questions asked is have you ever had counseling. I don't know what they mean by that and don't know if it is an issue.

For example, when I graduated school, I couldn't decide what to do and went to a counselor a couple of times to chart out a career course. It was a regular counselor and referred to through my parents friends but it wasn't a "mental" issue if you know what I mean. It was just so I could organize my thoughts and chart a clear course for my future with a person.

Also, several years ago my husband and I took a marriage stregthening class through our church. In the class, we realized there were a couple of issues we wanted to discuss further with a third party. We went to a session of "marriage" counseling with someone recommended by the church but after we went the first time, we realized it wasn't necessary for us and just set down and had a heart to heart talk on our own.

Do these types of things constitute counseling or are they looking for other issues such as depression, etc? If they do constitute counseling, I guess we should list them and, if so, are they going to pose an issue? I honestly don't even know the name of the counselors at issue or their exact locations it has been such a long time ago and such a minor thing in my life.

Thanks, I want to be honest if we go forward with the application but don't want to put down unneeded stuff either.

[Lissa]

Those types of situations shouldn't be a deterent in any sort of way. I wouldn't sweat it. Mostly they are looking for serious marital problems or issues like depression etc.

[specialk4b]

I saw a counselor when I went through my divorce. I wasn't depressed, just trying to sort out who I was apart from this guy who had rejected me. The agency had no problem with that at all.

As Lissa said, I think it's only a problem if it would signify serious problems in your marriage or if you were taking anti-depressants.

[WebMama]

Thanks! That makes me feel better.