Sibling or Group Therapy
Sibling rivalry is quite common in families, but it can pose challenges for parents when it escalates into intense competition. This rivalry typically begins with feelings of jealousy, competition, and arguments, extending throughout childhood and, in some cases, into adulthood.
Frequent conflicts between siblings are often seen in families with children who are close in age, of the same gender, or feel they are treated unequally. If this issue is becoming a concern, Sibling Play Therapy, can be beneficial.
Common Causes of Sibling Rivalry:
- The arrival of a new sibling
- Competition for attention
- Differences in temperament
- Varied interests
- Boundary violations
- Stress
- Negative family dynamics and parenting styles
- Issues in blended families
- Experiences of neglect or abuse
When Does Sibling Rivalry Become a Concern?
While most conflicts between children diminish as they mature and develop better language and social skills, sibling rivalry can be frustrating for parents, particularly when it becomes persistent and disrupts family harmony. It is advisable to seek professional help from counselling services when:
- Conflicts are ongoing and can occur anytime and anywhere
- Disputes escalate into aggressive or abusive behaviors, such as constant bullying or physical attacks
- One sibling experiences emotional distress, impacting the mental health of one or all siblings, leading to stress or depression
- Siblings completely sever their interactions and relationship
Sibling Play Therapy
Sibling Play Therapy offers a means to address sibling conflicts and restore family harmony. This therapeutic approach enhances sibling relationships by targeting the root causes of their issues and providing them with improved problem-solving skills.
Sibling Therapy can effectively strengthen sibling bonds and encourage healthier conflict resolution strategies. Sibling Play therapy sessions allow children to navigate and express their intense emotions with a therapist who can help co-regulate their interactions if they become overwhelming.
In these sessions, our goal is to assist children in enhancing their confidence, understanding the idea of reciprocal interactions, and managing challenging situations that may lead to discomfort.
Sibling Therapy is most effective when paired with individual therapy sessions, allowing each child to express their thoughts and process their emotions independently. Typically, we conduct at least three individual play therapy sessions before gaining each child's consent to initiate sibling therapy.