ABSTRACT
Women in stepfamilies do not feel they have similar support systems. While many stepfamily issues are parenting and couple issues occurring in all types of families, familiarity with stepfamily structure and dynamics dramatically increases the trust stepparents have in the helpfulness of friends, neighbors, or professional persons with whom they interact. And, indeed, the understanding and effectiveness of the helpful individuals are increased manyfold by knowledge of the types of situations and dynamics commonly encountered in stepfamilies. It is difficult to draw a line between counseling and therapy, and the approach used by a mental health professional will reflect individual training and personal style. The chapter also presents case histories which illustrate common situations presented by individuals and stepfamilies who seek help. Very often it will be the woman who will be the individual to seek help in coping with stepfamily problems.
