Do you specialize in blended families?

Yes. Dick and Barb Ivey have lived in a blended family since 1988 and have decades of experience coaching other blended families. The unique dynamics are familiar territory.

Is blended-family coaching different from regular marriage coaching?

Significantly different. The dynamics — step-parenting, ex-spouses, blended-family finances, holidays — require frameworks first marriages never need. We tailor accordingly.

When should we start blended-family coaching?

Ideally before the wedding for couples preparing to remarry, or in the first two years of the new marriage when patterns are still flexible. Later is fine too — we work with blended families at every stage.

Can you help if our adult step-children have not accepted us?

Yes. This is a common pattern in blended families and one we have walked through both personally and with many couples. There is no fast answer, but there is a path.

From People Who've Actually Lived It

Blended Family Coaching

Most marriage coaches have read about blended families. We have lived in one since 1988 — three children, eight grandchildren, all the complications and all the gifts. Our blended-family coaching comes from inside the experience, not outside of it.

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Why Blended Families Need Different Coaching

Standard marriage advice does not translate cleanly to blended families. The dynamics are different — the children come from prior marriages, ex-spouses are still in the picture, holidays mean coordinating with multiple households, and money flows in directions first marriages never deal with. Coaching that treats a blended family like a first marriage just bigger will miss what actually matters.

What Blended Family Coaching Covers

The "ours, mine, yours" dynamics with children — what every step-parent needs to know about authority and affection
Co-parenting with ex-spouses without it destroying the new marriage
Holiday and visitation rhythms that protect the marriage
Money — alimony, child support, college funds, inheritance, prenups
The first 5 years of remarriage — why most blended-family struggles peak here, and how to navigate them
Spiritual formation in a household with kids from different family histories

The Iveys' Story

Dick and Barb married in 1988, blending children from prior marriages. They navigated step-parenting, ex-spouse dynamics, blended-family holidays, blended-family finances, and the unique spiritual challenges of raising kids in a Christian remarriage. They made mistakes. They learned. And they have spent decades helping other blended families avoid the same mistakes and navigate the unique gifts of remarriage.

Common Issues Blended Families Bring to Coaching

Step-parent feels like an outsider in their own home
Conflict about discipline of biological vs. step-children
Marriage strained by an ex-spouse who creates ongoing drama
Adult step-children who have not accepted the remarriage
Newly remarried couples wanting to do it right this time
Couples preparing to marry where children are part of the picture

How the Coaching Works

Most blended-family coaching engagements run 4 to 8 months of active work, then mentoring follow-up. The early sessions focus on stabilization and protecting the marriage from blended-family stressors. Later sessions move into the deeper work — healing legacy wounds from the first marriages, integrating spiritual practice across the household, building a unified family identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you specialize in blended families?: Yes. Dick and Barb Ivey have lived in a blended family since 1988 and have decades of experience coaching other blended families. The unique dynamics are familiar territory.
Is blended-family coaching different from regular marriage coaching?: Significantly different. The dynamics — step-parenting, ex-spouses, blended-family finances, holidays — require frameworks first marriages never need. We tailor accordingly.
When should we start blended-family coaching?: Ideally before the wedding for couples preparing to remarry, or in the first two years of the new marriage when patterns are still flexible. Later is fine too — we work with blended families at every stage.
Can you help if our adult step-children have not accepted us?: Yes. This is a common pattern in blended families and one we have walked through both personally and with many couples. There is no fast answer, but there is a path.

Ready to talk?

The first 30-minute conversation is free. We'll listen, give you an honest read on what kind of help fits, and tell you whether coaching is the right path or whether you need something else.