We Didn't Expect This!

Stepfamilies are patchwork quilts: pieced together from separate material that creates a whole, functional entity. That's the idea as you plan to form a stepfamily - and that's the ideal.

If you're reading this, you are probably challenged by an issue that has arisen from trying to "blend" a family. If you think it's difficult, there is researh that supports your point of view!

But We've Always Done it This Way! Generally, stepfamily issues arise from loyalty conflicts that affect the "stepcouple's" ability to run their household as smoothly as they had hoped. They find themselves arguing about issues they could not possibly have anticipated.

Further, any challenges stepfamilies face can seem intensified due to the very nature of "blending" famlies: there are more people involved, touching more lives than in tradiitonal famlies.

Stepfamily Counseling Helps I work with stepfamilies at all stages. Remarriage preparation can be highly effective for couples planning to form a stepfamily. Or at some point later, stepcouples will look for help in working through challenges tha can emerge as the stepfamily's life develops.

Some stepfamilies need help with navigating new roles, rules and expectations as they merge their everyday lives and tasks.

Others face extraordinary situations - and the belief that no one has faced what they must - leaving one or both partners feeling challenged, isolated or overwhelmed. 

Resources

Article based on my graduate research:

Sayre, McCollum and Spring

"An Outsider in My Own Home"

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, October, 2010

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21039655

Books:

Becoming a Stepfamily by Patricia Papernow

Stepfamilies: Myths and Realities by Emily and John Visher

For Further Information or an Appointment

Please contact me - we can discuss your situation and the ways counseling may help you, your partner and your stepfamily.

Telephone: 843-271-4771

Email: jbsayreLMFT@gmail.com