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| The Families | |
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| Key to Genograms | |
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| List of Illustrations | |
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| Acknowledgements | |
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| Laying the Foundation | |
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| A Map for Stepfamilies | |
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| What Makes Stepfamilies Different? | |
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| The Five Challenges | |
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| The First Challenge: Insider/Outsider Positions Are Intense and Stuck | |
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| The Challenge | |
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| Easy Wrong Turns | |
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| Stories of Stepcouples Meeting Their Insider/Outsider Challenges | |
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| Best Practices: Key Strategies for Connecting across the Insider/Outsider Divide | |
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| Two Case Studies | |
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| Conclusion to Chapter 3 | |
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| The Second Challenge: Children Struggle with Losses, Loyalty Binds, and Too Much Change | |
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| The Challenges for Children | |
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| What the Research Says about Children in Stepfamilies | |
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| Easy Wrong Turns | |
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| Stories of Stepfamilies Meeting Children's Challenges | |
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| Best Practices: Key Strategies for Supporting Stepchildren's Wellbeing | |
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| Two Case Studies | |
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| Conclusion to Chapter 4 | |
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| The Third Challenge: Parenting Tasks Polarize the Adults | |
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| The Challenge | |
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| What the Research Says about Parenting in a Stepfamily | |
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| (Very) Easy Wrong Turns | |
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| Stories of Stepcouples Meeting the Parenting Challenge | |
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| Best Practices: Key Strategies for Building a Viable Parenting Coalition | |
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| Two Case Studies | |
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| Conclusion to Chapter 5 | |
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| The Fourth Challenge: Creating a New Family Culture | |
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| The Challenge | |
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| Easy Wrong Turns | |
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| Stories of Honoring Differences and Creating Shared Ground | |
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| Best Practices: Key Strategies for Navigating Differences and Growing a New Stepfamily Culture | |
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| Case Study | |
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| Conclusion to Chapter 6 | |
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| The Fifth Challenge: Ex-Spouses Are Part of the Family | |
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| The Challenge | |
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| What the Research Says about Conflict and Kids | |
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| What the Research Says about Co-Parenting Arrangements | |
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| Easy Wrong Turns | |
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| Stories of Stepfamilies Fostering Co-Parenting Relationships | |
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| Best Practices: Key Strategies for Negotiating Family Life across Households | |
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| Case Study | |
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| Conclusion to Chapter 7 | |
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| Four "Diverse" Stepfamilies | |
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| Stepfamilies Headed by Lesbian and Gay Couples | |
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| African American Stepfamilies: Strengths We Can Learn From | |
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| The Challenges for Latino Stepfamilies | |
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| New Wrinkles: Later Life Cycle Stepfamilies | |
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| Stepfamilies Over Time | |
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| The Stepfamily Cycle: Normal Stages of Stepfamily Development | |
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| Early Stages: Getting Started or Getting Stuck | |
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| Middle Stages: Reorganizing Family Relationships | |
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| Later Stages: Mature Stepfamilies | |
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| Six Patterns of Becoming a Stepfamily | |
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| How Long Does It Take? | |
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| Two Easier Rides | |
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| Four Harder Rides | |
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| Kevin and Claire Move from Surviving to Thriving | |
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| Helping Stepfamilies Thrive | |
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| Level I: A Toolbox for Psychoeducation | |
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| Level II: A Toolbox for Interpersonal Skills | |
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| Level III: A Toolbox for Intrapsychic Work | |
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| Becoming a Stepfamily Is a Process, Not an Event | |
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| Working with Stepfamily Members Over Time: An Overview | |
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| Conclusion | |
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| Notes | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |