This blog is written by the clinicians at Jonah Green and Associates, a mental health practice based in Kensington, MD that provides quality services for children, teens, families, and adults. It is intended as a resource for families who are seeking to expand their knowledge about mental health and mental health services, and also as a resource for families who are seeking quality mental health services, especially in the mid-Atlantic region.
“He’s my brother.” Exploring the value of sibling therapy for healing, reconnection, and navigating family transitions. The road is long / / But I’m strong / Strong enough to carry him/ He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother. —The Hollies, 1969 When adult siblings enter therapy together, they carry not only active concerns, but also a
Inspired by Fern Schumer Chapman’s book Brothers, Sisters, Strangers Sibling relationships are often our longest. While they can offer immeasurable support, they can be among the most hurtful when bonds rupture. In Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation, Chapman combines personal experience with interviews to guide those inhabiting this confusing
Sibling relationships are significant and often the longest-lasting. They profoundly impact our emotional and social development and well-being throughout childhood. As we move into adulthood, they frequently influence us as we venture out of our childhood homes and establish new families and relationships. Our relationships with our siblings as adults depend on the quality of
Sibling rivalry ranks high in the litany of parent complaints. In bewilderment we ask, “Why can’t they just get along? Why do they keep fighting?” The warfare heats up and we fret, “Someone’s going to get badly hurt!” We worry, “What’s wrong with them? Where did I go wrong as a parent?” It can all
Couples and family members who enter therapy to improve their relationships have usually endured long periods of harsh conflict. Couples might be caught in repetitive cycles of criticism and defensiveness; parents and teens might be trapped in power struggles; siblings may find themselves in escalating rivalries. Anguished to stop destructive arguments, people usually begin therapy focused