64th Annual Conference

Thursday, March 9

Afternoon Workshops

2:45-6:00 P.M.

Workshop 69

Clinical Interventions with Step-Families

Chairs:         

Richard Reposa, LMSW, FAGPA, Adjunct Professor of Social Work, University of Texas, Austin School of Social Work, Austin, Texas

Alberto Serrano, M.D., FAGPA, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas

Theoretical and clinical materials related to therapy with step-families from a systemic perspective will be the focus of the workshop. Information regarding: separation, divorce, post-divorce, new relationships and remarriage will be presented. A combination of group discussion, sharing of case materials by participants including simulated interviews will be utilized to demonstrate intervention strategies with various step-family configurations. Finally, discussion and feedback will provide participants with a conceptual and practical integration of the workshop experience.

didactic, sharing of work experiences, demonstration, experiential

Learning Objectives:

The attendee will be able to:

1. Provide treatment strategies for the step-family using a family systems model of intervention.

2. Define phases of the divorce, post-divorce and remarriage with implications for the step-family.

3. Promote the integration of theoretical and practical models for intervention with stepfamilies.

Course References:

1. Visher, E. and Visher, J. (1988). Old Loyalties, New Ties: Therapeutic interventions with step families. New York: Brunner/Mazel.

2. Ahrons, C. (1994). The Good Divorce: Keeping your family together when your marriage comes apart. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

3. Mavis Hetherington, E. & Kelly, J.,(2002). For Better of For Worse-Divorce Reconsidered. New York, New York: W.W. Norton Publishers.

4. Wallerstein, J. & Blakeslee, S. (2000). The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce-A 25-Year Landmark Study. New York, NY: Hyperion.