16-year-old son forced to go to family therapy with dad and stepmom, only for therapist to tell them they’re wasting her time and fires the family: “Sounds like your dad is willing to throw away a future with you for this woman”

Author image for Briana Viser
Briana Viser • Writer and Editor
May 17, 2025 2:00 PM EDT

Welcome back ladies and gentlemen of the internet. In this day and age, therapy speak has become more and more popular all the time. 50 years ago, you could ask anyone off the street what bipolar is, BPD, depression, anxiety, or narcissism and they would probably look at you like you're speaking a different language. Whereas these days, the language used in therapy sessions between a psychologist and client are often used as common vernacular in 2025. 

There are pros and cons to this recent usage. It's a good thing to bring these mental health issues and behaviors to light, but of course it's a real science and shouldn't necessarily be used by people who don't properly know how to denote them. There's also the issue of overdiagnosis. In a world where these terms are becoming more and more prominent, it can become a crutch to just label yourself or someone else something, and not actually take real responsibility for your actions. 

In the story below, the protagonist is a teenage boy whose family makes him go to family therapy. He has some issues with his stepmother, but who doesn't? Read the full story below for all the juicy details. 

Add as a preferred
source on Google
Advertisement
  • 01

    AITA for telling others about the family therapist firing my dad and his wife?

    Cheezburger Image 10506083072
    via ElenaNichizhenova from Getty Images / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    My mom when I (16) was 11. My dad remarried last year. I didn't like it and I acted up. I still don't like it, full disclosure. But I was a terror and made life harder for them. I felt like dad betrayed me and my mom by marrying again and so fast too but my biggest
    via u/Slamberone

  • This family is in a real whirlwind. It's hard to see a teenager act more mature than his father or stepmother, two adults that should be the ones to guide his way, and teach him things. Instead, they're only making his life harder, and being difficult people to work with. 

  • 03
    thing was they expected her to slot right in like she was suddenly my parent too and someone who got to make decisions for me. It was things like giving me new chores, telling me how to dress and what I should eat, where I should and shouldn't go, trying to make me explain my homework to her and
    via u/Slamberone
  • 04
    expecting to let her review it. Sh like that I hated and I would get so mad that I'd scream at her. And at dad when he backed her up. So I'd sneak out, I was r de to them, I wouldn't listen to her and other stuff like that.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 05
    My dad tried talking to me. But he talked to me before he met her too. He made promises about how it would be just us until I was ready to move out. He promised me he needed a lot of time before he could think about dating again because he loved my mom so much. Then he's already dating
    via u/Slamberone
  • 06
    much. Then he's already dating someone and they're getting married and I was still 15 and couldn't just leave. And not only that but he was acting like she was now my parent too? I felt like that wasn't fair. H | date and keep her from moving in but they had clearly talked about how she'd be a parent once she moved in because they were on the same page with that stuff.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 07
    When things were getting so bad that dad was worried I'd run away, and I considered it, and I stayed out all night sometimes, he told us we needed family therapy.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 08
    Strike one in family therapy was my dad and his wife refused the therapists suggestion of each of us getting solo sessions too. They just wanted the group sessions.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 09
    Strike two was the way they would talk over me when I was asked what I would be okay with or would like to see. The therapist said if me, the teen, could listen then so could they.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 10
    Strike three was dad arguing back against the therapist and his wife calling her useless. Dad said she was not giving good advice and that he didn't need to consult me on who could and couldn't come into our home or help him parent
    via u/Slamberone
  • 11
    Cheezburger Image 10506083840
    via Monstera Production from Pexels / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    me. He said he didn't care if he sounded like an a to me but he had decided his wife was deserving of equal respect and authority.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 13
    Strike four which was the final strike was they refused to compromise. I already had. I stopped being so disrespectful and getting into so much trouble. I did ignore my dad's wife a lot because I couldn't handle talking to her with
    via u/Slamberone
  • 14
    how she talked to me, but I wouldn't go anywhere without asking or stay out all night and I didn't call her and I stopped calling her names. But they refused to discuss her not being my parent. The therapist even told me if she got them to agree it would be re- evaluated and discussed more over
    via u/Slamberone
  • 15
    time. That she might end up with some parental-like authority eventually. But they said she was staying my parent and they weren't willing to discuss it. They told the therapist she was meant to make me get on board with that.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 16
    So the therapist told them they were wasting her time and she wouldn't see us all anymore. She did say she'd continue to see me since I worked with her but my dad said no way and so none of us are going back. They're pred that she fired them. I found it hilarious.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 17
    I told my friends, I told different family members, I told the neighbor who dad would tell all our sh to before. And my dad hates it. He told me I'm trying to humiliate them and it's personal business not public. I told him if he could tell people our business then so could
    via u/Slamberone
  • 18
    I. He told me I was enjoying it too much. Then we got into another fight. But hey, I just went into my room instead of sneaking out.
    via u/Slamberone
  • 19
    Dad and his wife are blaming me because dad's side of the family are giving them sh for getting fired from therapy. AITA?
    via u/Slamberone
  • 20
    writing_mm_romance • 21h ago Sounds like your dad is willing to throw away a future with you for this woman. I'd tell that's exactly what he's doing, and when I turned 18, I'd be gone from his life and let him end up sad miserable and alone.
    via u/writing_mm_romance
  • 21
    MommersHeart • 21h ago Imagine being such a mess, your therapist discovers the teenager is the only adult. They were correct to quit. ΝΤΑ.
    via u/MommersHeart
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 10506083584
    via pixelshot / Canva

    This image is for illustration only, and the subjects are models; the image does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 23
    JamieJamis • 21h ago NTA!! Lots of disrespect, miscommunication, manipulation, and ab_e of parental power. It's very showing of your character that, although you'd been. acting out, within a year you
    via u/JamieJamis
  • 24
    settled and tried to compromise in a respectful, adult way like they should have. yes, you did lash out, but it doesn't seem like you really did wrong. sneaking out and calling names, sure, but that is MILD compared to what some kids have and will do.
    via u/JamieJamis
  • 25
    Stay strong and safe! and always, always remember that respect goes two ways, if it's not reciprocated, there's no need to show respect. dignity, pride, and confidence, grey rock them, that's the right way to go here!!
    via u/JamieJamis
  • 26
    No_Worker_8216 • 21h ago NTA. Can you go live with a family member for a few months, years? It would allow you to finish school in peace?
    via u/No_Worker_8216
  • 27
    Running away will never be the solution. You gotta find a safe living environment. Best of luck!
    via u/No_Worker_8216

Tags

family drama family therapy drama therapy stepmom family feud relationships lol love family reddit thread Reddit funny dating
Scroll Down For The Next Article