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Rearranging the Puzzle: Working Systemically with Stepfamilies when Parents Re‐partner
Author(s) -
Wood Sarah J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.297
H-Index - 19
eISSN - 1467-8438
pISSN - 0814-723X
DOI - 10.1002/anzf.1106
Subject(s) - stepfamily , vignette , context (archaeology) , psychology , frame (networking) , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , computer science , telecommunications , paleontology , biology
This paper develops a systemically informed tool‐kit of therapeutic ideas for working with stepfamilies. First, systemic thinking is applied to the stepfamily context, and compared to traditional stepfamily lenses. Second, an integrative frame is used to incorporate a range of systemic therapeutic practices, to match four specific stepfamily issues. These practices are demonstrated through a fictional clinical vignette weaved throughout the paper. Finally, the challenge of being flexible in integrating theory is discussed.