Sibling Aggression, Abuse, and Trauma

 Earn 3 CE Contact Hours

Destructive sibling aggression — violence and abuse — is the most widespread form of interpersonal harm, outnumbering child abuse by parents, and peer violence, combined. Yet, it remains fairly unknown to the general population and to those providing family treatment. Sibling violence is also linked to a wide array of serious consequences including anxiety, depression, academic and behavioral challenges, adult relational difficulties, and PTSD.

This workshop will review research on sibling violence and abuse, provide a theoretical framework for understanding the family dynamics that sustain and exacerbate it, and offer empirically-informed assessment and intervention strategies for addressing it when it occurs, and for counseling those who experienced it prior to treatment. The workshop will also consider sibling relationships and violence in larger contexts.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Understand the scope and types of destructive sibling aggression and its consequences
• Understand the family and environmental dynamics that sustain and exacerbate destructive sibling aggression
• Learn how to assess for sibling abuse
• Learn treatment strategies for working with individuals, siblings, and families
• Understand how destructive sibling aggression is linked to other common presenting treatment concerns

Who Should Attend:

Mental health professionals, therapists, social workers, counselors, and family practitioners who work with children, adolescents, and families. This workshop is particularly relevant for clinicians seeking to better recognize, assess, and intervene in cases of sibling aggression, abuse, and trauma, and to understand how these dynamics impact family functioning, individual development, and long-term relational outcomes.

Meet Dr. Caspi:

Jonathan Caspi, PhD, LCSW, is Professor in the Department of Family Science & Human Development at Montclair State University, where he was also the founding director of the PhD in Family Science program. His scholarship has focused on siblings, and translating research outcomes into practice. He has authored four books and multiple scholarly articles, is a frequent media consultant and podcast guest. Dr. Caspi is also a licensed clinician who “thinks siblings” in his practice.