Episode Details

BONUS REWIND: Is Your Therapist Making Your Stepfamily Problems Worse? (Ep. 135)

What if the advice you're getting in therapy is actually making your stepfamily problems worse?

You've tried therapy. You've followed the advice. You've been told to be more patient, create more family togetherness, or take a bigger role in disciplining your stepchildren. And somehow, things have gotten even harder.

But what if the problem isn't you? What if your therapist is working from the wrong family map?

In this special Bonus Rewind of The Stepmom Diaries, Cameron revisits one of the most important conversations for stepmoms who have tried everything and still feel stuck.

The reality is that stepfamilies operate differently from first families, yet many therapists receive little formal training in stepfamily dynamics. Even well-meaning professionals can unintentionally offer advice that creates more frustration than progress.

Cameron breaks down what the research actually tells us about stepfamily development, why traditional therapy approaches sometimes miss the mark, and how to recognize whether your therapist truly understands blended families.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why traditional family therapy advice can make stepfamily challenges worse

• How stepfamily relationships develop differently from first-family relationships

• Four questions to ask a therapist about their stepfamily training and approach

• What a healthy, realistic stepparent and stepchild relationship can look like

This isn't about criticizing therapy or telling you to leave a therapist you trust. It's about making sure your family gets support that actually fits.

Because sometimes you're not doing anything wrong. You've just been handed the wrong map.

Originally released August 6, 2026, as Episode 135 of The Stepmom Diaries.

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Resources Mentioned

Learn more about Patricia Papernow and her clinical work on stepfamily development

Explore research by Todd Jensen on stepfamilies and the gap between research and professional practice 

Look for Patricia Papernow's clinical book on working with stepfamilies