Working Together: The Power of Counseling for Blended Families

It can be a wonderful thing to find love again and remarry after losing a spouse or going through a divorce. However, when you both have children, there’s no denying that bringing your two families together can come with some unique challenges.

Blended families are more common than ever, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to assume that everyone will be comfortable or get along right away without a little bit of time and effort.

Thankfully, there are things you can do to foster better communication and togetherness as you get used to your blended family. One of the best options is to try counseling together. Let’s take a closer look at the power of counseling for blended families, and how working together can make a big difference.

Counseling and Communication

One of the biggest benefits of counseling for blended families is that it will teach healthy communication skills. Family members will have the opportunity to express themselves and their needs and feelings in a safe, open setting. They’ll be able to speak without judgment, which will make it easier for everyone to understand if there are any underlying issues to address.

Everyone can also learn how to improve their personal communication skills. Things like active listening, using “I” statements, and not shying away from vulnerability are all things that can improve the togetherness of your blended family.

Stronger communication can also help to improve conflict resolution within your family unit. It’s not always easy to effectively navigate disagreements, especially when you’re trying to avoid things like choosing sides or dismissing one person’s feelings and catering to someone else’s.

Counseling will make it easier to work through conflicts with respect and communication, so everyone can feel more at ease when they open up moving forward.

Strengthening Relationships

It’s a big goal in counseling for blended families to strengthen all relationships. Counseling can help everyone in the family develop greater empathy toward one another. They can foster a better sense of understanding and get to know things about “new” family members that they might not have found out on their own.

Additionally, counseling can help to strengthen your parental alliance with your new spouse. It can be difficult for a recently married couple to know how to navigate the relationships with their biological children and step-children. Counseling can help you learn how to work together to create the most supportive environment for everyone in the family.

Promoting Wellness for Everyone

If anyone in the family is dealing with extra stress, anxiety, or other mental health struggles, counseling can bring those issues to the forefront and help each individual work through them before they become worse.

However, you don’t have to wait for a “problem” to arise in your blended family to seek out the benefits of counseling. It’s a great way to help your family members prioritize self-care, both as individuals and as a family unit. Counseling can open up doors for mental health help now and in the future, so family members feel more comfortable seeking out support if they’re struggling.

Next Steps

In a perfect world, blended families wouldn’t face any challenges. However, even if your children get along most of the time, things might not always be harmonious, and it’s important to know how to tackle those challenges in ways that are fair to everyone. Open communication, conflict resolution, and a safe and healthy environment can help. Family counseling can help you get there.

If you want to learn more or you’re ready to set up an appointment for your family, reach out today for more information. This can be a great way to start out this new chapter of your lives on the right foot.