I grew up between two blended families after my parents separated, long before blended family support existed. That personal experience, combined with sixteen years as a social worker in the Netherlands, shaped how I understand families today.

Throughout my career I supported individuals, couples and families through some of their hardest moments. Over time, one group kept standing out: blended and stepfamilies, who rarely had support designed specifically for them.

Building a blended family is one of the most loving things people do, and one of the most underestimated. Many families struggle quietly, believing something is wrong with them. Usually, they are simply doing something genuinely hard.

That is why I founded Step Up Family: an online practice offering practical, solution-focused guidance tailored to stepfamilies and blended families. I work from Valencia, Spain, which means I can work with families wherever you are in the world.

Bernadette, Founder of Step-Up Family