Building a New Foundation

Stepfamilies may soon outnumber first-marriage families in the United States. The new family is characterized by losses, transitions, overwhelming change, and lack of acceptance. How can therapists better serve these families? Strategies developed specifically for this population need to be employed rather than applying those that one might use for a nuclear family. Conceptualization is based on the understanding that this family grouping is not problematic, but different from the stereotypical two-parent nuclear family. Therefore, treatment objectives are based on addressing problems emanating from the basic stepfamily characteristics as attainable goals are established.