4 Reasons To Consider Step-Parenting Counseling

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The step-parent, step-child relationship is perhaps one of the most difficult relationships to get right. For many step-parents, there's often a lot of resentment that comes from being placed in a parental role while having no genetic connection with the children and not even an emotional bond. Many step-children often feel resentful and confused about why their step-parent has taken the place of their biological parent.

Below are four benefits of step-parent counseling:

It Helps Improve Communication Between Step-Child And Step-Parent

During step-parenting, it's normal for step-parents and step-children to go through several communication problems. Step-children often feel resentful towards their new parent, which leads to them lashing out or close-up completely. On some occasions, they may try to alienate themselves from the situation by shutting their step-parent out. On the other hand, step-parents often struggle to understand their step-children's behavior and emotions, which leads to miscommunication between them. Counseling is an excellent way for step-parents and step-children to learn how to communicate more effectively.

Step-Parenting Requires Patience

Step-parenting isn't easy. It takes a lot of patience, understanding, and self-control from the step-parents. Step-parents often have to put their own emotions aside to focus on their step-children's needs. Counseling is a great way step-parents can learn how to deal with step-parenting more effectively by learning strategies that will help them remain patient during hard times.

It Makes Step-Parenting An Enjoyable Experience

To begin with, there are a lot of challenges that step-parents and step-children need to learn how to deal with. However, it can also be a rewarding and beneficial experience if the two parties learn to embrace the strong family values step-families have. Step-parenting counseling is an effective way for step-parents and step-children to learn how step-parenting can be an enjoyable experience through positive step-parenting activities, learning certain skills, and gaining an emotional connection.

It Increases Step-Parents' Confidence in Step-Parenting

Step-parents are placed in a parental role while having no genetic or emotional bond with the step-children. This understandably causes self-doubt for step-parents, making step-parenting a very daunting experience for them. However, counseling is an excellent way step-parents can improve their self-esteem. It will enable them to learn how to better cope with having no genetic connection with step-children without feeling guilty about it.

The Bottom Line

Co-parenting can be tough for many step-families. Sometimes biological parents may try to interfere with the step-children's relationship with their step-father or step-mother. Many people who do not seek out step-family counseling are at a higher risk for divorce, and may experience more problems with their step-children.

Contact a local counseling service, such as One Step Beyond Counseling and Wellness, to learn more.

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21 October 2021

Counseling is Important Even if You Are Taking Depression Medication

I suffered depression for much of my life, and I lived with it for years before seeking help. I visited a psychiatrist and received an antidepressant prescription along with a referral to a counselor. I filled my prescription, but I put off making an appointment with the counselor. The medication began to help, so I decided that I didn't need to see a counselor after all -- or so I thought at the time. After a couple of months of medication, a close friend of mine died of an illness. I then learned that even though the medication helped my depression, I still had not learned the coping skills I needed to deal with traumatic life experiences. That even motivated me to seek counseling, and it helped me immensely. I created this blog to remind others that medication can help when suffering with depression, but counseling is also extremely important.