In today’s world, many families become a blend of “his and hers,” with children from prior marriages or relationships, growing up together. Such families often face the challenges of shared custody, parenting agreements, and figuring out how to honor the love and loyalty from prior relationships while also developing a set of boundaries and rules which work in the current blended family. Challenges such families face include: custody, discipline, boundaries, rules, relationships, parenting conflicts, relating as a couple, step-siblings relating to one another, and getting to know and adjust to step-parents, step-siblings and step-children. Both adults and children may face issues of divided loyalties, resentments and forging new relationships. Blending a family takes sensitivity and insight, and often can be difficult. Seeking guidance from a counselor who works with blended families can allow parents and children to negotiate roles and create rules that work for everyone, and allow both parents and children to address the complex dynamics of loyalty, conflict and love. The following CPC counselors work with step-families and blended families:
Kasey Best (Fairfax, Sterling)
Suzanne Doherty (Annandale, Fairfax)
Heather Guthrie-Hoey (Dale City)
Gary McMichael (McLean, Springfield)
Randall Prior (Annandale, Fairfax)
Francine Ronis (Falls Church, McLean)