The average little girl isn't handed a doll and told, "this is your stepchild doll, go play with it." Likewise, most women do not grow up saying, "Someday, I want to be a stepmother." Being a member of a stepfamily is a role we find ourselves in, not one we aspire to. However, we want to do a good job and feel we belong. Society doesn't give us much support. In fact, it fills us with media myths of "wicked stepmother," sassy stepchildren, and bumbling stepfathers. Stepfamilies are at risk of breaking up, especially in the early years. (According to the Stepfamily Association of America 60% of remarriages end in divorce.)

    There is good news, Stepfamilies can and do make a significant difference in their members' lives if they stay involved and make a sustained effort to know, understand and relate to each other, meet each others' needs for belonging and feeling valued. The important intervention is information in what a stepfamily is and how to deal with its unique challenges.

    For more information please see the following article Stepfamilies face unique challenges but they can be met by Dr. Alderman published in the San Fernando Valley newspaper The Acorn.

    Dr. Alderman offers stepcouple and stepfamily therapy, as well as time-limited psycho-education regarding unique stepfamily issues. She also lectures and presents current thinking on the subject.