Book review: Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t

Issue: BCMJ, vol. 56, No. 10, December 2014, Page 482 News
By: Anne I. Clarke, MD

By Patricia L. Papernow. Routledge, 2013. ISBN 978-0-415-89438-8. Paperback, 229 pages. $35.14.

This book covers the gamut of issues faced by stepfamilies as they forge new relationships. It dispels the many myths that abound about how to help new spouses and children forge changed connections. The author outlines the five challenges faced by almost all stepfamilies—insider/outsider positions, children and their losses, polarizing parenting tasks, creating new family culture, and ex-spouses. Using examples from her own clinical practice, Dr Papernow explores how stepfamilies can approach the predictable roadblocks and conflicts when creating their new household. Full of excellent information, practical advice, and suggestions for solving problems, it is a rich resource for family physicians, counselors, and social workers alike.
—AIC

Anne I. Clarke, MD. Book review: Surviving and Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships: What Works and What Doesn’t. BCMJ, Vol. 56, No. 10, December, 2014, Page(s) 482 - News.


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