ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of psychoeducational tool that offers vital and succinct information for stepfamilies. Although the content is critical for healthy stepfamily formation and functioning, the Ten Commandments format conveys this serious information with some levity. It can be used simply as a handout, or the content and issues may be integrated in couple and family psychotherapy sessions. Clients often find educational information useful to augment therapy. It provides a summary of major "shalts" and "shalt nots" that therapists can discuss with both spouses in session, highlighting specific issues that pertain to particular families. Therapists can encourage couples to assess themselves on each of the "commandments". This provides a springboard for new families to begin working together to create the specific rules for their own new family. This activity alone can serve as an early ritual that helps children and families develop their own separate and unique identity.
