E45: Navigating Stepfamily Dynamics: Real Life Guidance from Therapist Connie Marasco

In today’s episode, we are making invisible things visible for people courageously living in step- or blended families. I'm speaking with psychotherapist Connie Marasco, who has both lived and clinical experience, working to help blended or step family life feel supported.

We cover:

• Connie and Christina’s experiences stepkid and stepmom respectively,
• The myths about blended families and hard things no one talks about feeling,
• The importance of the step-parent and step child relationship, and
• Concepts from human development that parents can use to help shape their efforts with their kids. 

Resources mentioned in the show: 

• Recommended reading: Stepfamilies: Love, parenting and marriage in the first decade by James Bray, PhD., and Parenting Apart: How Separated and Divorced Parents Can Raise Happy and Secure Kids by Christina McGhee​
• Use the discount code ‘PEBBLE’ at checkout, for 15% off on DIY*ADHD:Couples.

About our guest:  

Connie Marasco is a Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) with a masters degree in Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University and additional training in trauma, couples therapy, ADHD-informed psychotherapy and more recently, equine-assisted therapy. In addition to the skills she’s learned in practice and training, she also uses her wicked sense of humor, unrelenting curiosity and personal experience with mental health, to help create positive change for her clients. Connie hopes to focus the future of her work on supporting blended families on their journey to building safety in connections. Currently you can find Connie on the Dig a Little Deeper team, where she continues finding opportunities for new learning and inspiration.

Find Connie: Instagram | Work with Connie (Ontario)

Find Christina (CRPO #003908): Website | Meet the Team | DIY*ADHD course | Instagram | TikTok

A gentle reminder that this is not therapy, and Christina is not your therapist. If you need more one on one support or treatment, please check out the links posted in the Show info and episode notes on the main podcast webpage. 

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