Using a Knowledge Translation-Integrated Approach Aimed at Helping Blended Families Flourish

Abstract

There are significant gaps in programming for blended families to reduce their higher risk of marital dissolution and to promote resilience. A Knowledge-Translation Integrated approach (KTI) was carried out to compare three different psychoeducational workshops developed in collaboration with and for blended families (i.e., stakeholders), adapted from family therapy models (Satir, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, and Rational Emotive Attachment Logotherapy—now called Meaning Mindset Therapy). The KTI methodology included a qualitative needs assessment and the development of psychoeducational workshops based upon the needs assessment and these three therapy approaches. Five specific needs for blended families were derived from the literature review in addition to the needs assessment and were evaluated by the blended family stakeholders. These specific needs foundational to the development of the workshops included: maintaining a solid couple bond and parent coalition; dealing with losses, loyalties and change; managing dividing parenting/stepparenting tasks; building a new family culture and addressing stigma; and acknowledging other parents and relatives as still part of the family. Five exercises were derived from these five specific needs to develop a brief psychoeducational workshop program with each of the three proposed family therapy approaches adapted for blended families. This pilot program evaluation was conducted through three two-part workshops with nine blended families (three families per workshop type) to meet the five specific, evaluated needs from the needs assessment. The psychoeducational workshops were conducted to determine if the three approaches warranted further study or development. The pilot program also measured if meaning, well-being, attachment, and resilience improved after the workshops. Since alliance appeared to be related with meaning, well-being, attachment, and resilience, this pilot-study also accounted for alliance as a possible explanatory factor, as previous research noted that it can be a key predictor of treatment outcome. With the needs assessment, the stakeholders recommended going ahead with the implementation of the workshops evaluated. They also identified areas of targeted needs beyond the five specific needs from the literature, such as mental health support, family bonding, meaning-making and spirituality, and communication skills. After implementation of the three blended family workshops, meaning and psychological well-being improved from pre-test to post-test in both qualitative and quantitative findings for all three workshops, although alliance may have been a contributor. The qualitative findings suggested that participants wanted longer-lasting support than the conducted two-part workshop. Since all three workshops were associated with promising outcomes, a REALSELF Integrated Treatment Protocol incorporating all five exercises per each of the three workshop models is proposed for future research, after a larger scale study to support preliminary findings. This type of study, using a KTI third wave positive psychology approach with blended families including children, and in a live online format, in Canada and in the world, has never been carried out before. The applied KTI approach helps to integrate expert knowledge and needs from the blended family knowledge users. It may foster new meaning or understanding, or at least deeper collaboration between experts and blended families. In particular, the current research may shed a new light in blended family therapy research and blended family psychoeducational programs as blended families are fast becoming the most predominant form of family in Western society.