Sensible Steps was formed as a means of helping families in transition from divorce/separation to stepfamily. Stepfamilies operate very differently than biological families, but those differences are not widely known or accepted. Usually, it is only through personal experience that people start to learn of the differences. Many members of stepfamilies do not know or understand them. Hence, they are blindsided by the various issues that confront them. This lack of understanding leads them to blame each other for the turmoil instead of the context of being in a stepfamily.

The first phase of becoming a stepfamily starts with the divorce or separation. The loss of a family causes a lot of emotion in each member of the family. However, each person is affected differently. There are many things that the parents can do to minimize this effect. If some or all of these precautions are taken, situations that could be highly stressful could lead to little or no stress.

One of the biggest stresses is introducing a new potential partner to the kids and possibly forming a stepfamily. I provide suggestions and guidance for a smoother transition into becoming a stepfamily. For preformed stepfamilies, I provide mediations for seemingly unresolvable issues, consultations for helping with big decisions like moving or having a new baby, and a longer-term coaching service for families experiencing a lot of turmoil. Because research on stepfamilies is recent, many psychologists and other experts do not understand the inherent differences between stepfamilies and biological families. Consequently, I can produce results when other experts cannot.