ABSTRACT
In many stepfamilies much of the feeling of “differentness” and alienation is psychologically based. In intact families highly disruptive manifestations of stepfamily patterns are the exception, whereas in stepfamilies disruption due to similar patterns is to be expected because of the nature of stepfamily structure. The issues raised will at times be similar in content to those raised with intact or with single-parent families, but there will also be dissimilar content arising from the psychological and structural differences of stepfamilies. Many of the problems in stepfamilies of getting along together are exaggerations of problems in intact or nuclear families; other problems are unique to stepfamilies. In some settings stepfamilies are seen in groups with intact and single-parent families, while in other settings stepfamilies are seen in groups containing only stepfamilies. The techniques employed in working with these families may be similar to those used for working with other types of families.
