Oh brother!

Sibling rivalries. Something I was unfamiliar with until I started my coaching work. 

I am a single Mom to an only child (my son), and I was unfamiliar with the intensity and the impact of sibling rivalries until I started coaching with families and working on my PhD thesis. 

Sibling rivalries can be intense, to put it mildly, and I’ve seen the way they can disrupt a home. They can cause parents to feel like they’re pitted against each other, other siblings who aren’t involved in the rivalry feeling pressured to pick sides, and all around increase the intensity in the home. 

They’re also distressing for the children themselves - it’s not fun to be living with the person you feel the most angst against!

So, how do you handle it?

I wish there were a simple answer, but the answer is typically a whole lot of work! Sometimes you need to examine your family system and see what things may be contributing to the underlying rivalry. Sometimes one child or both need individualized support. Sometimes the parents need help just the two of them, to try and figure out if they’re unconsciously doing something to spark the rivalry. 

It can be an overwhelming thing to approach, and I want to let you know you’re not alone. I have worked with dozens of families dealing with this exact issue. And though it’s intimidating to face, there’s nothing better than coming out the other side with a strong feeling of family and happy kids. 

If any of the above applies to you, please reach out and schedule a free consultation with me. You deserve, and your kids deserve, to live a life rivalry-free, and I’m happy to get you started. And, as a Mom, I have deep empathy for the stress of intrafamilial tension and will work with you to tailor my approach to help your family achieve peace in as ideal a way as possible. 

Much Love, 

Dr. Jain