Family Therapy in Westlake Village
Therapy for Stepfamilies Who Weren't Handed a Manual
From a therapist who's building one herself as a stepmom of 3.
"Blending" Was Never the Right Word
Nobody tells you that becoming a stepfamily doesn't mean becoming one family overnight. In fact, it often takes two to seven years* just to find a rhythm that feels less like negotiation and more like life. In the meantime, two households with different rules, histories, and definitions of "normal" are trying to function under one roof.
That friction isn't a sign something's broken. It's what happens when expectations are misaligned with reality.
*Source: (Papernow, 2013)
Support for Remarried, Multi-Household, and Complex Families
Common Reasons Stepfamilies Like Yours Often Reach Out
Parenting differences that keep turning into arguments
Loyalty conflicts kids are caught in the middle of
Household rules and discipline that don't match between homes
Communication that's gone from difficult to avoidant
Step-parent/stepchild relationships that feel stuck
The logistics and emotional whiplash of moving between households
Build a healthier Foundation for Your Stepfamily
Your family isn't failing at being a "normal" family. You're building a different kind of family, and it deserves its own set of expectations instead of the ones you inherited from families that were never structured this way.
Hi, I'm Lilly Gibson, LMFT
I work with stepfamilies specifically. Not as a general family therapist who occasionally sees stepfamilies, but as someone whose caseload is built around this exact structure: the roles, the loyalty binds, the two-household logistics, the timeline nobody explains up front.
You don't have to navigate this shift by yourselves.
Working together, we'll focus on:
Getting the adults on the same page, especially when unresolved couple conflict is trickling down to everyone else
Making sense of new roles (stepparent, stepchild, sibling) without forcing anyone into a part that doesn't fit
Building communication that holds up under pressure, not just in calm moments
Understanding each family member's perspective, including the ones that are hardest to hear
Navigating discipline and household rules that don't match between homes
Managing the transitions and logistics that come with moving between two households
A clearer path forward is closer than it feels right now.
Questions Stepfamilies Like Yours Often Ask Before Starting Therapy
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Stepfamily therapy typically focuses on the couple, a specific family subsystem, or a one-on-one relationship within the family rather than bringing everyone into the same session. Because stepfamily dynamics can be complex, what feels supportive to one family member may be upsetting or polarizing to another. Working with the relationships that need attention individually allows us to address those dynamics in a more thoughtful, productive way.
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Stepfamily therapy considers the larger family system while focusing intentionally on the relationships within it. Depending on what’s happening, we may work with the couple, a parent and child, a stepparent and stepchild, or another specific relationship. This allows us to address how each relationship impacts the broader family dynamic without requiring the entire family to be in the room at once.
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I'm not in-network with any insurance providers, but I can provide a superbill you can submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. I'd recommend checking with your provider first to see what your out-of-network benefits look like.
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Yes, both. In-person sessions are held in Westlake Village, and virtual sessions are available anywhere in California.
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Start with a free 15-minute consult. We'll talk through what your family is navigating, and if it feels like the right fit, we'll schedule your first session from there.
There's no rule that says you should already ever feel like the Brady Bunch.
There's just the work of figuring out what actually fits the family you have so you can stop bracing for the next conflict and start successfully navigating life together.