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

Email to Book a Training

LEARN MORE

Psychology Today

"Supporting Siblings in Foster Care," May 2026

Psychology Today

"Domestic Violence Can Lead to Sibling Aggression and Abuse," February 2026

Healthy Children Podcast

"Sibling Rivalry: Expert Tips to De-Escalate Fights and Build Stronger Bonds," Episode 58, October 2025

Talking About Kids Podcast

"What You Need to Know About Sibling Sexual Abuse," Season 4, Episode 30, May 2025

SAARA Resources for Professionals

Demographic variation in sibling aggression and abuse
Demographic Variation in Sibling Aggression and Abuse
October 26, 2023
SAARA Bulletin #5. 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.
First page of SAARA Bulletin #4
What is the Line: When Does Sibling Conflict, Teasing, and Roughhousing Become Something More Serious?
October 24, 2023
SAARA Bulletin #4. 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 on managing sibling conflict and aggression
Recommendations for Parents on Managing Sibling Conflict and Aggression
April 22, 2023
SAARA Bulletin #2. 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.
First page of SAARA Bulletin 1
Disentangling Sibling Rivalry from Aggression and Abuse
April 8, 2023
SAARA Bulletin #1. 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.
First page of "Sibling aggression and abuse go beyond rivalry – bullying within a family can have lifelong repercussions"
March 1, 2023
Research consistently shows that sibling aggression and abuse are far from harmless and can have lifelong repercussions.
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.