Stepfamily Assessment

Abstract

The increase in the number of stepfamilies in our soci- ety is reflected in the high number of stepfamilies requesting help in mental health facilities and social agencies. The rationale for developing a model for assessing remarried fam- ilies comes from an awareness of the complexities of remarried fam- ilies and of b e difficulty therapists have in assessing and organizing all relevant information. We do not imply any particular method to assess the families; we are simply suggesting a format which needs to be in the mind of the therapist when interviewing the family or a family member. Our model emphasizes particular aspects of remarried family life that play a crucial role in the successful adjustment of the remarried family, such as the resolution of the previous relationship, the influ- ence of the outside parent, the co-parental relationship, the mobility of the children between households, and the integration of the new partner.