(a) Family counseling. At any time prior or subsequent to the alteration of the parties’ marital status the court may order that any party or parties and any of their children be interviewed by a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist or other trained professional in family counseling, approved by the court, for the purpose of determining whether it is in the best interests of any of the parties’ children that the parties and any of their children have counseling regarding matters of legal custody, residency, visitation or parenting time. The court shall receive the written opinion of the professional, and the court shall make the opinion available as provided by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 23-3210, and amendments thereto. Any professional consulted by the court under this section may be examined as a witness. If the opinion of the professional is that counseling is in the best interests of any of the children, the court may order the parties and any of the children to obtain counseling. Neither party shall be required to obtain counseling pursuant to this section if the party objects thereto because the counseling conflicts with sincerely held religious tenets and practices to which any party is an adherent.

(b) Costs. The costs of the counseling shall be taxed to either party as equity and justice require.