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Sequoia Family Therapy

Family Therapy

Blended Families

Bringing two families together takes longer than most people expect. Kids may feel caught between households or loyal to a parent who isn’t there. Stepparents can feel unsure how much authority they have. Couples can end up on opposite sides, each defending their own children.

None of this means the new family isn’t working. It means everyone is adjusting, and each person needs help understanding where they fit.

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What it can look like

  • Children resist a stepparent or new siblings
  • Kids feel torn between two homes
  • Partners disagree about discipline and roles
  • Holidays and custody schedules create tension
  • A stepparent feels like an outsider
  • Losses from a divorce or a death are still close to the surface

How we work on it

In family work, parents are the most important resource in the room. Rather than trying to fix a child, we help parents become the steady caregivers their children need, especially in hard moments.

We also give children words for what’s happening inside them. Kids often show distress through behavior because they don’t yet have language for worry, sadness, or feeling left out. When they can name it, parents can respond to the need and not only the behavior.

Then we support parents in responding: staying calm, setting limits with warmth, and repairing after conflict. Sessions may include the whole family, parents on their own, or a mix, depending on what helps most.

Approaches we use

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Systemic family therapy

From the blog

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Wondering if this fits what you’re going through?

A free 15-minute consultation is a good place to ask. We’ll talk about what’s going on and whether we’re a good fit.

Book your free 15-min consultation