Whether working with couples, families, adults, or children, participants in this workshop will learn to recognize the major challenges all stepfamilies face. They will learn a 3-level framework for meeting those challenges and avoiding some common "wrong turns" in their clinical work. The impacts of stigma and factors such as race, gender and sexual orientation on stepfamily relationships will also be explored. Participants will take away tools for softening conflict, sowing realistic hope, providing evidence-based guidance, and forging connections in their work with blended families. At the conclusion of this program the participants will be able to (1) describe the unique challenges "blended families" create for parents, stepparents, children, and ex-spouses; (2) describe some evidence-based, practical tools for meeting common stepfamily challenges occurring in interpersonal and intrapsychic contexts; and (3) describe how factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and stepfamily stigma can impact stepfamilies.

Hosted by the Psychodynamic Couple and Family Institute of New England (PCFINE) online for 6 CEs. For more info, visit www.pcfine.org.