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Therapy for Couples in Blended Families
Helping couples in blended families who want to stop having the same fights, handle stress without turning on each other, and finally feel like a real family.
You love each other…but this isn’t what you thought it would be like.
This was supposed to be your next chapter.
A second chance at love…not a minefield of resentment and frustration.
Since starting your stepfamily, things have gotten… complicated.
The kids have opinions. The ex is always in the picture. Schedules change on a dime. One of you gets anxious and worries things are never going to change. The other feels criticized and like nothing you do is good enough. And the stuff that used to bring you closer isn’t working like it used to.
You’ve probably told yourselves:
“We just need to make it through this week/this time of year.”
“Once the custody schedule evens out, it’ll be better.”
“If the kids would just adjust, we’d be okay.”
But I’m here to tell you:
What’s really hurting your relationship isn’t any one of those things—it’s the way they’re slowly wearing down your connection.
It’s about how you talk to each other when you’re stressed, how you set boundaries (or don’t), and how often you’re left wondering: “Are we even on the same page?”
You’re ready to finally be a united front and feel close again.
Blended family life is full of constantly moving targets. 🎯 Counseling will help you two show up for each other with more clarity, communication that works, and more connection—even when the blended family sh*t hits the fan.
YOU’LL LEAVE WITH TOOLS TO:
Communicate better under pressure
Get out of “defense mode”
Parent as a united front
Set boundaries with confidence
Stay close even when the rest of life gets messy
No more rehashing old fights.
No more walking on eggshells.
No more wondering what happened to the relationship you once loved.
HOW IT WORKS
Couples counseling will help you understand what keeps pulling you apart and how to come back together when things get hard.
Here’s how we do that:
1. We Identify the Pattern
When stress hits, most couples fall into the same loop over and over. One pushes. One pulls away. One wants answers now. The other shuts down. Once you can see the pattern, it loses its grip—and the blame between you starts to soften.
2. We Get to What’s Really Going On
Most fights - yes, even between couples in a blended family - aren’t about the topic at hand like exes, the kids, schedules, division of labor, etc., They’re about feeling unseen, unimportant, or feeling like you never do anything right. We slow conversations down so you can say what actually matters—without explosions, defensiveness, or silence.
3. We Rebuild Trust and Emotional Safety
Strong relationships aren’t conflict-free. They’re built on knowing you can reach for your partner and get a response. Over time, we focus on helping you feel more secure, supported, and connected—especially during blended family challenges.
4. Learn to Cope With Challenges Specific to Stepfamilies
Life (and blended family stress) isn’t going anywhere. The goal in therapy with me is to stop turning on each other when pressure builds—and start approaching problems side by side.
FAQs
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You will thrive in therapy if you are:
Open to sessions that are collaborative and goal-oriented. My approach is to create a partnership with you, where we’ll work together to identify your needs and make progress toward the goals that you set for yourself.
2. Open to "homework" i.e. actively reflecting between sessions on what came up for your during your last session and implementing some of the techniques you learned
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I’m licensed to provide therapy in IL & FL and I can only see individuals who live in those States, even though it’s via video. If you live outside of IL or FL, coaching may be a good fit for you!
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No, I do not accept insurance. All of my services are private pay - with a credit card, FSA, or HSA.
I am happy to provide you with the necessary paperwork (superbill / receipt) for you to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement for a portion of the session fee.
Please know that not all insurance plans offer reimbursement for out-of-network providers and some plans may have a deductible or an allowable amount. I recommend calling the customer service number on the back of your card and speak to a representative for details about your specific plan.
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Prior to specializing in blended families, I helped clients with anxiety (and other mental health issues). . I occasionally have space to work with clients around these issues, please inquire via email to see if I have space jamie@hemispherescounseling.com
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It’s not uncommon for one partner to seek therapy before the other is ready to join. But that doesn't mean we can’t work to improve your relationship. I’m happy to meet with you individually in the meantime. We will work to identify your individual goals, and find strategies to improve your relationship until your partner is ready to join.