Treating sibling abuse families

Society's awareness of sibling incest and assault, and its response, has lagged behind other child abuse issues and concerns. In comparison with parent-child abuse, intersibling abuse is generally underreported by parents, teachers, mental health professionals, and the community. Child Protective Services and the legal system are reluctant to accept and respond to sibling abuse reports that are filed. This article reviews an integrative, multidimensional approach for conducting assessment and psychotherapy with children and families where sibling abuse has occurred. Clinical examples and selected research results are included to illustrate fundamentals of treating sibling incest and assault victims and their families. Treatment for sibling incest and assault requires multidisciplinary cooperation and usually, the coordination of services among several provider systems. Like child abuse treatment in general, it is complex and challenging work that requires ongoing specialized training and ability.