ABSTRACT
The vulnerability stepfamilies experience is inherent in the complexity of holding hopes and dreams along with the relational risks and rewards as they deal with unforeseen demands, competing developmental needs, and mixed relationship backgrounds. Many stepfamilies feel very vulnerable in the early stages of their life together when their hopes for family cohesion fail, in the absence of guidance or direction regarding what to expect as they develop their new family group. Research has focused on the negative impact of divorce on the lives of children with less understanding regarding what helps children who, after divorce, are living in stepfamilies. Children in stepfamilies experience the transition from their original family as a significant loss. Emotionally focused family therapy provides a clear and comprehensive map to intervention with distressed stepfamilies, honoring the needs of both subsystems while repairing and strengthening the caregiving attachment system.
