Course
Selection Guide
Use this guide to determine which of our current
offerings will suit your stepfamily's needs and circumstances best.
Stepfamily
Dynamics
The
Stepfamily Dynamics is a free 2.0 hour introduction
into the many and complex issues that characterize stepfamilies and
stepfamily life.
Consider
registering for Stepfamily Dynamics:
-
to assess the extent your stepfamily is "in
the grip" of typical stepfamily issues and concerns,
-
to decide if one of our course offerings will
meet your family's needs.
Click
here to register.
Building Stepfamilies That
Work
Building
Stepfamilies That Work is a course for
couples who are:
-
living in a stepfamily, or contemplating starting a stepfamily,
and
-
who are comfortable with learning and working in a small
group setting.
Importantly, this course requires
a commitment: to attend regular weekly classes, complete all exercises assigned,
and participate during in-class exercises and discussions.
Consider this option if:
Click
here to register.
The Stepfamily Intensive
The
Stepfamily Intensive is
essentially the Building Stepfamilies That
Work course tailored to the needs of a single couple. The
Stepfamily
Intensive
should be considered
if:
-
your results on the
Stepfamily Problem List
indicate the problems your family is experiencing are more extensive and/or
more intensive than is true for other stepfamilies, and/or
-
your family is experiencing many
Stepfamily Specific Problems,
-
either or both members of the couple are uneasy working in a
group setting
-
work and/or other schedules are incompatible with attending
the regular, weekly Building Stepfamilies
That Work
classes, and/or
-
other members of the stepfamily, or extended family, would
like to, or need to attend.
Click
here to register.
When HE Has Kids … and You
Don’t
When HE Has Kids...and You Don't
is:
-
a course specifically designed for women who have never had a
biological child of their own, who are
-
currently living in, or contemplating entering into a
stepfamily union.
The women living
in this form of a stepfamily are generally seen as having the most challenging
of all stepfamily roles because they must confront the difficulties that
characterize stepfamily life at the same time they are being confronted with
“instant motherhood”. Not surprisingly, this form of a stepfamily has a very
high risk of breaking down.
The distinguishing
features of this course are:
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Extensive
peer support:
Attendees benefit greatly from the understanding and support of other women
living under similar circumstances. Classes typically continue to meet as a
natural support group following the course.
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A clear focus on skill
development—particularly in response to demands and
expectations associated with “instant motherhood”.
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Identification
and development of viable stepmothering
roles.
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Click
here to register.
Individual, Couple and
Stepfamily Counselling
This is a service option that is tailored to
the particular needs and concerns of the individual, couple, stepfamily and/or
the extended stepfamily.
Consider this option:
-
if
you or your partner are unable or unwilling to attend
Building
Stepfamilies That Work or the
Stepfamily
Intensive,
-
you are heading a “single parent” stepfamily, or
-
for a consultation regarding a specific stepfamily problem or concern.
Still unsure? Following are
several resources that should be of help:
Click here
to register.
Relationship First Aid
Relationship First
Aid
is a home-study program that has proven to work
exceptionally well for couples who are planning to start a new stepfamily as
well as for those who are already living in a stepfamily union.
Consider this option:
-
if your
Relationship Test
results indicate that a program such as Relationship First Aid is warranted
-
if you and/or your partner are unable to attend
regularly scheduled sessions with a counsellor, or
-
either of you would feel uncomfortable
working with a professional on any areas of concern for your relationship.
Click
here to be notified when the program is available for purchase.
Discipline With Dignity
Discipline With
Dignity
is a home-study program that:
-
teaches you how to accurately analyze and effectively resolve persistent
behaviour problems, and
-
how to set the stage to bring out the best
behaviour in the kids under your care.
This guide will help you decide if Discipline
With Dignity is a good fit with your needs:
Still unsure? Following are several resources that should help you to decide
between our various offerings:
Click
here to be notified when the program is available for purchase.
Teleconference and
Videoconference Sessions
-
These are highly
individualized options to consider when significant distances separate the
involved parties.
-
Teleconferences, that only require access to a telephone, are usually
arranged after regular business hours. Special provisions are required when more
than four individuals (including the counselor) will be involved.
Note:
Videoconferences
require: 1) Access to a computer equipped with a microphone and a web cam, 2)
compatible videoconference software (e.g., Skype), and 3) a high speed Internet connection.
Click here to
register.
Building Successful
Stepfamilies Workshops
- These
half-day workshops provide intensive group learning experiences that focus upon
selected topics of important concern for stepfamilies. Through structured
exercises and discussions, participants achieve an in-depth understanding of the
topic under consideration, and work together to develop an array of practical
strategies to address problems that are likely to emerge.
Click
here
if you would like to be notified of the next Workshop.
All rights reserved. The reproduction, use,
distribution or storage or of this work, in whole or in part, by any and
all means, without the express written permission of the author, is
strictly prohibited.
The
Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta
www.stepfamily.ca
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