Providing guidance for the challenging nuances of blended family life so you have a more peaceful and harmonious home
10+
years of
experience
3
specialist
courses
90%
of EFT clients report
improved relationships*
If you’re experiencing…
- hurtful family interactions
- silent disappointments
- confusion of the early stages of blended family development
…you’re not alone.
You remarried for a happy life and yet, your spouse and children are upset with each other, your partner is defensive about changing how the home runs and favors the children, and everyone seems…well…unhappy.
Honestly, it’s not unusual.
And I can help…
Through therapy, online courses and coaching, I help couples and blended families cope with the unique challenges they encounter. I help make sense of the complicated interactions felt by each family member, helping to normalize unforeseen dynamics which can cast a shadow over daily life.
Understanding what’s normal
I help couples, stepparents and bio-parents understand what is normal, what to expect and how other family members are experiencing the same process in a much different way.
For blended couples this means a better understanding of how to support each other, how to communicate more effectively, and orienting the couple toward each person’s separate experience to help manage daily life and create a more peaceful household.
What this means for you
I offer clarity around all of the unseen dynamics affecting blended families and the eight stages of blended family development.
You will…
Understand and articulate confusing emotions, such as:
- Feeling like an outsider in your own home.
- Misunderstanding children’s behavior when they are in loyalty binds.
- Experiencing defensiveness from a partner toward their children, even when a stepparent is trying to help.
- Dealing with the frustration of a stepparent wanting to join the family but feeling unsure how to do so.
Gain clarity on the dynamics of blended families and their unique challenges.
Hi, I’m Julee Peterson
LMFT #117074
I’m a licensed psychotherapist specializing in couples and blended families. Through my own journey as a stepparent and my professional focus with blended families and couples, I have learned the nuances of emotion and attachment that flow between a couple and within a blended family. I can help strengthen your connection and communication, and my courses can bring understanding to the 8 stages of blended development and the unexpected painful dynamics of blended relationships that feel wrong, yet are quite normal.
Ways to work together
Most popular resources
The Blended Blueprint
Through therapy and/or online courses, I help blended families cope with the unique challenges they encounter. I help you make sense of the complicated interactions
Blended Bree
Blended Bree is an entertaining story about blended families, building relationships, and the power of imagination.
Blended Bree will bring you a child’s-eye view of blended families. Making you ponder, laugh, and awaken awareness around the complicated dynamics of blended families, this colorful, engaging picture book inspires family connection, hope, and pathways to a peaceful home.
Blended Bree also includes ways to use the book to help children, parents, and stepparents tackle fickle family dynamics.
Testimonials
“I’m normally not a reader, but I couldn’t stop moving through the 8 stages of development. I am so grateful to understand my experience. I went from feeling left out, ignored and out-of-control to understanding the challenges were normal and would eventually change. I found the “What to do” section incredibly helpful and the worksheets helped me work through looking at my role and where I was mis-stepping as a stepparent.”
– Alyyson | San Francisco
Latest articles
Realities of Blended Family Life
Life inside a blended family is different, and that doesn’t mean it’s bad. It simply means it comes with its own set...
Blended Family vs. Stepfamily: Is There Really a Difference?
What is a blended family versus a stepfamily? Is one term better than the other? Or is it simply a matter of...
Blended Families: Understanding the Realities Behind the Statistics
When we picture “family life,” many of us still imagine the traditional nuclear family. But the reality is shifting -...
*According to research by Psychology Today, 90% of couples who go through EFT significantly improve their relationship.