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Click the play button and listen to the Introduction to StepWisdom, Knowledge from the Ages for Successful StepFamilies, as read by Dagne Spackman.
About StepWisdom
Professional psychotherapists describe StepWisdom, Knowledge from the Ages for Successful StepFamilies as presenting a needed and important paradigm shift in the way we look at stepfamilies.
The book's author, Eleanor Alden, describes the gifts these vibrant, flexible, and creative families bring to society, and looks at the positive impact stepchildren and stepfamilies have had on human culture over thousands of years.
While not denying that stepfamilies can be challenging and sometimes difficult, this book emphasizes that most things worthwhile are usually challenging and sometimes difficult.
Instead of perpetuating the viewpoint that stepfamilies are tragic, or that they offer only a second-best situation in contrast to biological families, this book promotes a different perspective.
These families have equal value, and although in many ways different than families without step relationships they have a long history of producing creative successful people, and families that thrive.
StepWisdom restores StepFamilies to a place of honor and respect, both for their struggles and for their gifts.
StepWisdom combines, history, archetypal psychology, modern family therapy and cognitive psycholology concepts into a practical and often humorous whole.
This book is designed to be read by professionals and stepfamily members alike; it takes what could be seen as complex and complicated archetypal and psychological concepts and makes them practical and easily understood.
Did You Know?
Stepfamilies have produced leaders and creative people such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, as well as much older figures in history such as Moses, Israel, and Queen Elizabeth I. They became who there were because of their stepfamily.
Mythological heroic figures such as King Arthur and characters from the Greek pantheon and numerous fairy-tales describe patterns of human behavior that are archetypal, and have a wealth of information about human psychology in stepfamilies.
Because of the shorter lifespan in earlier times, with childbirth being leading cause of death for women, and that so many cultures have been polygamous, that most children in history have been raised in a stepfamily.
You May:
- Buy StepWisdom the Book
- Buy the Audio Version of StepWisdom
- Sign up for the FREE StepWise the Newsletter, which allows you to download FREE information to aide StepFamilies in becoming the most successful they can be.
- Follow Eleanor on Twitter
- Like the StepWisdom Facebook Page
What People Are Saying...
"This rich and careful work on the holy and unholy aspects of stepfamilies, written by therapist and professor Eleanor Alden, not only draws on observations and understandings from private practice, from education in depth psychology, but also from her growing up in a stepfamily herself. This evocative work offers understandings about patterns of both sweet and sour drives and impulses within stepfamilies... as found in reality, and in mythos. This work can help others see the seeds for a beautiful flowering within the special families called 'step'... as in 'step' to a more fulfilling consciousness within these families."
— Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Diplomate Jungian Psychoanalyst, Author of Women Who Run with the Wolves
"StepWisdom, Knowledge from the Ages for Successful StepFamilies is truly wonderful. There is nothing out there like it. Eleanor Alden speaks so well to the reader with clarity and moments of humor.... She makes the case so well that stepfamilies are the norm and there is no reason that they can't be gifts.... everyone should be required to read this before they enter a marriage with children. The work is truly captivating."
— Claudia Black, MSW, PhD, Author and Addictions Specialist
"I have known Eleanor Alden for many years, and I have frequently been impressed with her ability to relate to complex material from a depth of perception, and to express that perception with clarity. Her book on stepfamilies is a fine example of this ability. It is chock full of insight, compassion, and humor. She takes the reader on journeys both mythical and concrete, showing us how these two dimensions inform each other in that most "basic" social structure that we know of — the family. It was C.G. Jung's strong belief that we must not see our clients through a fixed theoretical lens, but look at each person as a totally new image of the psyche, and Eleanor has brought this wisdom to her work with stepfamilies. In this book, she brings us to an expanded and more flexible way of relating to the experience of family, and she does this through her keen ability to recognize the archetypal imagery inherent in the multiple and complicated patterns within stepfamilies, and her compassionate way of recognizing the potential for growth that each pattern holds. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in better understanding the stepfamily experience, the challenges and opportunities it brings to our lives."
— Lara Newton, MA, Diplomate Jungian Analyst, Author of Brothers and Sisters
"Insightful, historically illuminating in a very interesting way and a must read for every psychiatrist and mental health professional who works with Step-Families. And now we know that we all do!"
— Laura J. Klein, M.D., Stepmother, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
"I am a 'step' individual in every category, step daughter, step mother, step grandmother, step sister, step aunt et al. I was excited to read "StepWisdom" to see what I could learn to improve those relationships. My expectations were exceeded and I can't wait to share this book with others.
"Eleanor Spackman Alden has provided an easy to understand handbook for all types of relationships. She takes case studies of dysfunctional marriages and destructive divorces to illustrate certain rapport issues. Eleanor uses examples from the Bible, Greek mythology and Dr. Jung, a Swiss Psychiatrist to graphically depict specific behavior tenancies. She uses humor to lighten the load of uncomfortable situations and demonstrates how to correct the situation.
"This book is a must read for any person wanting to nurture and progress to create loving and supportive family relationships in all circumstances. Reading this book can help avoid unpleasant interaction mistakes."
— Carra Riley, Author of Cosmic Cow Pie... Connecting The Dots
"The understanding you seek for what makes a healthy family and a healthy stepfamily has been available to you for thousands upon thousands of years. In a very readable and compelling way, Eleanor Alden has pieced together archetypal images, fairy tales, Biblical stories, historical figures and her own case studies to help us gain understanding from the wisdom of the ages. She states: "whether the stepchild is a historic, mythic, or biblical figure, the courage to face the new and different and to believe that change can be good is a common theme in the stories." This is also a common theme in this encouraging work." Eleanor's masterful work addresses the negative perceptions about stepfamilies that our society has fostered for far too long and allows us to see that these families have tremendous potential to support the development of strong, healthy and courageous individuals. We are invited to step back and accept the tremendous gifts that can come from brokenness. When we stand in judgment of brokenness, which our culture tends to do, we will miss the gift and Eleanor gives us multiple examples to help us rework our thinking and to reshape our belief system.
"She captures beautifully a central message of her book: "stepfamilies are not easy or simple family systems, but much in life that is the most rewarding is neither simple nor easy."
— Thomas Long, M. Div, Pastoral Counselor, Minister and Stepfather
"This is a very important book, some chapters brought tears to my eyes and made me re-think a lot of my life, but each chapter should resonate with someone who has been in a step-family."
— Anne Cole, MSN, Author, Psychotherapist and Stepmother
"StepWisdom, Knowledge from the Ages for Successful StepFamilies is a book that will guide today's stepfamilies away from what they don't want and gracefully into what they do want — a healthy, loving family."
— Dr. Patricia L. Bay, Psy.D., Psychologist, and Author of Therapy in a Nutshell
"Stepfamilies and family therapists will find a deep reservoir of wisdom here. Even amidst the often-devastating fallout of divorce, there is the real possibility to create a successful and vibrant new family. Straightforward and inspiring, Eleanor Alden brightly illuminates the journey to a different kind of wholeness."
— The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Plattner, Author, Pastoral Psychotherapist and Stepfather
"In StepWisdom Eleanor Alden makes a valuable contribution to the study of families by broadening our awareness that stepfamilies have been a part of our family systems since the beginning of family formation. By highlighting the wisdom that stepfamilies contain she brings to them the status they deserve. Her Jungian perspective brings new light to the uniqueness and commonness of stepfamilies highlighting both their positive and challenging aspects. She skillfully weaves the lessons from our rich history of fairytales and myths giving them modern interpretations that express both the conscious and unconscious beliefs in our families. This is a must read as we are all members of stepfamilies."
— Mel Grusing, MSW, LSCW, Past President of StepFamily Association of Colorado
"Eleanor Alden has written a book that will help all of us to see step families differently. This is a perfect time to begin talking more openly about what is helpful in the therapeutic arena when working with step families. The book illuminates areas that are not often talked about in therapy. The careful attention to detail in areas for conversations with step families will help all of us to avoid pitfalls that can be destructive."
— Wayne H. McCleskey, M.Th., LMFT
"StepWisdom arrived and I'm impressed! Your information is terrific and your approach to stepfamily information will, I'm sure, be of great help to those many families in need. Kudos on StepWisdom and wishing you much success on getting your important information out."
— Gloria Lintermans, Author of Secrets to Stepfamily Success
