Stepfamily Therapy

In this book, Scott Browning and Elise Artelt integrate clinically validated interventions within an original theoretical framework for stepfamily therapy. They envision the stepfamily as comprising subsystems, a series of overlapping relationships between individuals. This key insight enables clinicians to divide the stepfamily into more manageable units and plan treatment accordingly.

The authors guide readers through their 10-step model, emphasizing techniques that range from the conceptual—determining the unique structure of the stepfamily to help guide treatment—to more concrete interventions, from identifying and encouraging empathy, to identifying and challenging unhelpful beliefs, and assisting in work with co-parents. The importance of extended family members is stressed, as is the necessity of understanding and valuing racial, ethnic, and sexual diversity within stepfamilies. The ultimate goal is positive communication among family members, with subsystems that are fully integrated into a functioning and happy stepfamily.

As the first full, length investigation of clinical treatment with this important but underserved population, Stepfamily Therapy is a landmark publication in the field.