This thread made me smile. When I started with my counselor, she insisted on asking me about my parents, my childhood, etc. I sat there thinking "what is she--STUPID?" I'm here to deal with my marriage and my alcoholic husband!
After seeing her for over a year, I had to admit that my childhood issues definitely affected my behavior and thought processes as an adult. Identifying those issues and learning what to do with them changed my life profoundly.
L