Professionals & Practitioners

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Professionals and practitioners—including social workers, counselors, pediatricians, psychologists, juvenile justice professionals, and educators—may encounter someone who has experienced sibling aggression or abuse. To help you navigate this topic and provide support to individuals across the lifespan with lived experience, parents, and families, we offer education and resources on a variety of topics, which can be customized to meet the needs of your organization or audience.

Our sibling aggression and abuse experts speak at conferences, provide webinars and in-person training, offer consultation to professionals and organizations, and appear on podcasts and traditional media forms. Please contact us for more information.

An attendee at one of our recent trainings provided the following feedback:

"I'm so glad this topic was covered! It's something that frequently gets brought up in my practice and this is the first training I have come across to address the issue."

Some of the topics we’re available to provide training on include:

  • Sibling Rivalry and Conflict
  • Sibling Aggression and Abuse
  • Sibling Sexual Abuse
  • Family Dynamics and Sibling Aggression and Abuse
  • Promoting Positive Sibling Relationships
  • Sibling Dynamics in Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood
  • For Professionals: Prevention, Intervention, and Screening
  • For Parents: Prevention and Intervention
  • Barriers to Help-Seeking for Sibling Aggression and Abuse
  • Siblings with Disabilities
  • Links Between Sibling Aggression and Peer Bullying
  • Policy: A Public Health Approach to Sibling Aggression and Abuse

Podcast Appearances

Talking About Kids Podcast

"What You Need to Know About Sibling Aggression and Abuse," Season 4, Episode 11, November 2024

Listen here

The Social Work Lens

"Sibling Aggression & Abuse," Episode 48, July 2024

Listen here

What Would Dr. Meyers Do?

"A Sibling Abuse Resource for Support, Advocacy, and Change," Episode 65, January 2024

Listen here

SAARA Resources for Professionals

First page of "Clarifying labels, constructs, and definitions: Sibling aggression and abuse are family violence"
Clarifying labels, constructs, and definitions: Sibling aggression and abuse are family violence
April 3, 2025
This critical review article explores the distinctions between sibling rivalry, conflict, aggression, and abuse, challenging traditional perceptions and emphasizing the need for more precise terminology in understanding family violence. We offer recommendations for responding to each type of sibling dynamic.
Sibling aggression and abuse screening handout
Sibling Aggression and Abuse Screening Handout
November 7, 2024
This handout provides professional resources and suggested questions to use when screening children and adults for sibling aggression and abuse in a clinical or therapeutic setting.
cover of SAARA Bulletin 9
Addressing Sibling Aggression is Key to Reducing Peer Bullying
August 5, 2024
The next step in bullying prevention is the dissemination of information on sibling aggression and its impacts. Sibling aggression is not harmless and should be taken as seriously as its peer equivalents. Adapting peer bullying education efforts to include information about sibling aggression will promote children’s and adolescents’ well-being and increase safety at school and home.
sibling aggression abuse
Sibling Aggression and Abuse are ACEs
August 2, 2024
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) screenings for children, parents, and adults should be broadened to include sibling aggression and abuse (SAA) experiences. Positive screenings for SAA necessitate training for practitioners and professionals on SAA and the continued development of evidence-based interventions aimed at preventing and healing from SAA.
recognizing and responding to sibling sexual abuse
Recognizing and Responding to Sibling Sexual Abuse
July 29, 2024
The goal of this bulletin is to define sibling sexual abuse (SSA) and provide guidance for parents and professionals on how to respond. Professionals responding to sibling sexual behavior may find their training on child sexual abuse and maltreatment to be helpful; however, keep in mind that there are unique dynamics in sibling relationships that are important to consider.
Promoting Positive Sibling Relationships: Practical Tips for Caregivers
Promoting Positive Sibling Relationships: Practical Tips for Caregivers
June 26, 2024
This handout includes ten practical tips for parents and caregivers to promote positive sibling relationships. Available in English and Spanish.
An opportunity to address sibling aggression
An Opportunity to Address the Most Common Form of Family Violence: Sibling Aggression
January 26, 2024
Given the prevalence and impacts of sibling aggression, parenting education is needed. Yet evidence-based parent education programs generally do not address it. This represents an opportunity for parenting education. We propose how such information could be infused into parent education programming.
Do state child abuse and neglect policies address sibling abuse?
Do State Child Abuse and Neglect Policies Address Sibling Abuse?
January 1, 2024
Sibling abuse can be just as harmful as parental child maltreatment, leaving injuries and mental distress, yet there are no consistent statutory policies for responding to it.
Family Violence and Abuse Encyclopedia cover
Sibling Abuse and Bullying
November 30, 2023
Encyclopedia entry about sibling abuse and bullying in Family Violence and Abuse: An Encyclopedia of Trends, Issues, and Solutions.
demographic variation sibling aggression abuse
Demographic Variation in Sibling Aggression and Abuse
October 26, 2023
This bulletin reviews variation in sibling aggression rates and perceptions across race and ethnicity, gender, social class, ability, and sexual identity to help make researchers and practitioners aware of potential sources of difference in how sibling aggression is experienced.
what is the line
What is the Line: When Does Sibling Conflict, Teasing, and Roughhousing Become Something More Serious?
October 24, 2023
During conflict and play, aggressive behaviors like biting, pushing, making threats, or using intimidation, are common and often considered normal between siblings. This bulletin provides guidance on identifying when sibling behavior has crossed the line.
Resources for professionals and parents to improve sibling relationships
Resources for Professionals and Parents to Improve Sibling Relationships
May 6, 2023
SAARA Bulletin #3. The goal of this bulletin is to provide guidance for parents and professionals on preventing and responding to sibling aggression and abuse and improving sibling relationships.
recommendations for parents managing sibling conflict
Recommendations for Parents on Managing Sibling Conflict and Aggression
April 22, 2023
When children are young, parents can play an important role in managing sibling conflict while helping their children gain social and cognitive abilities. By using the mediation technique explained in this bulletin, parents help children become better able to resolve conflicts with their brothers and sisters.
Disentangling Sibling Rivalry from Aggression and Abuse
Disentangling Sibling Rivalry from Aggression and Abuse
April 8, 2023
Unfortunately, aggression, and even abuse, among siblings are often minimized and confused with rivalry. Knowing the difference is important. While sibling rivalry can be a constructive and healthy part of growing up, sibling aggression and abuse are harmful and require intervention.
The Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development cover
Sibling Victimization in Childhood
January 13, 2020
Encyclopedia entry about sibling victimization in the Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development.