Elaine Oswald, LCAT
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Siblings of Individuals with Special Needs
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Being a sibling of an individual with a developmental disability brings unique challenges, along with potential strengths. Because siblings often experience guilt over having any negative feelings about their brother or sister with a disability, it can be difficult to acknowledge their own needs for self-expression and support. I provide a non-judgmental space for siblings to explore the full range of their thoughts and feelings about their personal experience. I work with siblings of all ages.
 
Some common difficulties that adult siblings experience include:
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Putting the needs of others before one’s own needs
  • Difficulty identifying one’s own needs
  • Survivor guilt
  • Difficulty setting boundaries
  • Perfectionism
  • Difficulty expressing anger
  • Grief
  • Internalizing feelings
  • Fear of abandonment
  • Excessive caretaking role in relationships
  • Resentment
  • Concerns about having one’s own children
  • Trauma resulting from a sibling’s unpredictable or dangerous behaviors
  • Stress related to becoming the primary caretaker or guardian of a sibling with disability
 
Some common difficulties that child and teen siblings experience include:
  • Fears about their sibling’s disability
  • Jealousy about the amount of parental attention their sibling with a disability receives
  • Feeling isolated or different from peers
  • Perfectionism
  • Parentification; significant responsibilities for care of sibling
  • Withdrawal
  • Acting out
  • Guilt
  • Embarrassment about their sibling
  • Difficulties forming friendships
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Fear or trauma resulting from a sibling's unpredictable or dangerous behaviors
  • Difficulty expressing anger
  • Feeling that life is unfair
 
Contact me at 646 753-0754 or elaine@elaineoswald.com to learn more about how I help siblings.
646 753-0754 
139 Fulton Street, NY, NY 10038
© 2015 ELAINE OSWALD, LCAT
  • Home
  • Services
    • Siblings of Individuals Special Needs
    • Individual Psychotherapy for Adults
    • Therapy for Teens
    • Therapy for Children
    • Family Therapy
    • Experiential Workshops
  • Siblings
  • FAQs
  • Calendar
  • About Elaine
  • Contact