Navigate the challenges of a blended family with children to fortify your marriage for lasting happiness and understanding. The Happy Stepcouple is a comprehensive and practical book designed to help couples with children from prior relationships thrive despite the complexities of stepfamily life. Utilizing the most current research in attachment theory, psychology, communication, and marriage and family therapy, Rachelle Katz offers a grounded approach to overcoming common stepfamily problems. She shows stepcouples how to establish realistic stepfamily expectations as well as identify and modify harmful communication patterns-essential elements needed to strengthen the family bond. Drawing on the insights and strategies developed from Katz's 30-plus years as a marriage and family therapist specializing in treating stepfamilies, The Happy Stepcouple also includes personal accounts from stepcouples who describe the problems they have faced and how they handled them. It gives couples everything they need to navigate stepfamily dynamics with confidence and kindness, allowing families to build a happy, fulfilling life together.
Autorentext
Rachelle Katz, EdD , LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist with more than 30 years of experience and the author of The Happy Stepmother, a self-help book for stepmothers. In addition to working with individuals and couples, she also coaches stepmothers and their partners, runs a monthly support group for stepmothers, and conducts workshops for stepcouples. She has appeared as a guest on several cable network shows and podcasts to discuss stepfamily issues. Rachelle is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the American Psychological Association. She has been married for 28 years and has a 32-year-old stepdaughter. She and her husband live in New York City.
Inhalt
Introduction
STEP 1: REVISE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
1 Stepfamily Fallacies
2 Expectations of Your Relationship
3 Finances
4 Redefine the Role of Stepparent
STEP 2: IMPROVE COMMUNICATION
5 The Relevance of Emotional Attachment Styles for Stepcouples
6 Understand Each Attachment Style and Its Unique Coping Reaction
7 The Clash of Emotional Attachment Styles
8 The Stepcouple Shuffle
9 Bolster Your Security Level
10 Modify Your Reactions
11 Don't Let a Grudge Weigh You Down
12 Gain Courage to Express Feelings with Confidence
13 Communicate Effectively
14 Boost Your Partner's Security
15 Go Gently into Conflict
16 Dance the Waltz of Intimacy
STEP 3: ADDRESS YOUR SPECIFIC STEPCOUPLE CHALLENGES
17 Manage Insider/Outsider Issues
18 Tame Your Partner's Green-Eyed Monster
19 Construct Healthy Boundaries
20 Balance Power in Your Relationship
21 Further Steps