Stepfamilies

The term stepfamily generally refers to a family in which a couple is married or in a committed relationship and there is a child or children from one or more previous relationships. A parent entering a stepfamily may have children from a relationship that ended in a breakup or divorce, or because of the death of one partner. Stepfamilies are often very complex. Several factors impact the stepfamily unit, including the age of the child(ren), whether the other parent is in the picture, the stepparents’ desire to be involved, and myths and stereotypes about stepparents. Stepfamilies use counseling services due to the complexity of the familial relationship combined with the stereotypes of society. Focusing on the developmental needs of each person within the family, a ...