Factors Affecting the Perceived Helpfulness of Therapy with Stepfamilies

Rhoden, J. Lyn; Pasley, Kay

doi:10.1300/j087v34n01_05

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…The new stepfamily is usually experiencing intense emotions that become more complicated in the therapist's office if additional people are added to the interview (Rhoden & Pasley, 2000). Faulty communications, anger, and confusion are often the result of misperceptions.…”

Section: Ten Steps To Utilize In Understanding and Treating Stepfamiliesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treating Stepfamilies: A Subsystems‐Based Approach

Browning

Bray

2009

The Wiley‐Blackwell Handbook of Family Psychology

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Stepfamilies are a unique and challenging group to work with. There are an estimated 15 to 20 million stepfamilies in the USA and the number is projected to increase (Bramlett & Mosher, 2001, 2002Robertson, Adler-Baeder, Collins, DeMarco, & Fein, 2006). There are not exact estimates of the number of stepfamilies because the 2000 U.S. Census did not include information about marital status and many states no longer report information about marriage and divorce. Stepfamilies are linked to major demographic changes: increases in cohabitation and childbearing outside marriage, high divorce rates, and high remarriage rates (Bramlett & Mosher, 2001, 2002Bray, 1999;Kreider, 2005). The divorce rate for second and subsequent marriages is higher (5-10%) than for first marriages and has been partially attributed to the presence of children from previous relationships (Bramlett & Mosher, 2001). If the remarriage makes it through the first year, then the probability of divorce drops to that of first marriages. It is estimated that 65-75% of women and 75-85% of men will eventually remarry. Black women are less likely to remarry than White and Hispanic women (Smock, 1990). The percentages vary because younger people are more likely to remarry, while older adults are less likely to remarry.Problems presented clinically by stepfamilies frequently seem to match, in tone and nature, problems from first-marriage families. However, attempting to address these problems by incorporating a traditional family therapy approach only reminds the clinician of the unique dilemmas experienced by most stepfamilies. Therapeutic impasse is not uncommon when the distinction between the stepfamily and first-marriage family is ignored (Bray, 2001;Browning, 1994).Therapies and interventions specifically designed for stepfamilies are less common than general family therapy approaches.

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Section: Ten Steps To Utilize In Understanding and Treating Stepfamiliesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Treating Stepfamilies: A Subsystems‐Based Approach

Browning

Bray

2009

The Wiley‐Blackwell Handbook of Family Psychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Therapist ethnicity, gender, age, marital status, religion, and geographic location have all been linked to therapist bias in general (Barak & Fisher, 1989;Boen, 1985;Constantine, Juby, & Liang, 2001;Fisher, 1989;Flaskerud, 1991;Garb, 1997;Jerrell, 1998;Lott, 1990;Orchin, 1991;Rhoden & Pasley, 2000). However, these factors have yet to be linked with specific therapist attitudes toward marriage.…”

Section: Demographic Factorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marriage and Family Therapists' Attitudes toward Marriage

Caldwell

Woolley

2008

Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy

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Factors Affecting the Perceived Helpfulness of Therapy with Stepfamilies

Cited by 2 publications

References 20 publications

Treating Stepfamilies: A Subsystems‐Based Approach

Treating Stepfamilies: A Subsystems‐Based Approach

Marriage and Family Therapists' Attitudes toward Marriage

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