“That’s not fair!” “They always get their way!” “I had it first!”
Sibling dynamics can bring some of the biggest emotions—and some of the richest therapeutic opportunities—into the playroom. When siblings are together in session, therapists may find themselves wondering: Should I work with them individually, together, or as a family? When is it helpful to follow their lead, and when might a more focused intervention support the process? And what do I actually do when they’re both in the room?
In this 1-hour home study course, you’ll explore sibling relationships through a play therapy lens, looking beyond rivalry to understand what sibling dynamics can reveal about the larger family system. You’ll examine how sibling rivalry develops, consider the differences between non-directive and more focused directive approaches, and discover creative ways to facilitate therapeutic play when siblings are together.
Rather than simply trying to stop the fighting, this course invites you to become curious about what the conflict is communicating—and how sibling play can create opportunities for connection, negotiation, expression, and new ways of relating. You’ll leave with practical ideas you can bring directly into the playroom the next time siblings are invited to play together.
A 1-hour home study course dedicated to sibling rivalry and working with siblings in a play therapy session.
Presenter
Lisa Dion, LPC, RPT-S, is an international teacher, creator of Synergetic Play Therapy, founder and President of the Synergetic Play Therapy Institute.
Why Add SPT to Your Practice?
“I personally took a lot out of this [program], not all of it was new, but what was new was extremely useful and impactful. What wasn’t new was an excellent reminder to go back to my roots of attachment and emotional work when working with children just like I have worked with youth and adults over the years but in a slightly different context. My entire team has felt the positive impact of this training on our work and we are very happy that we all did it at the same time. We will be able to continue to practice it together and that is very exciting.”
“This experience has been validating to my entire human experience, and offered a clear framework to better connect with myself, client, and world! I know this was only the tip of the iceberg into integrating these powerful concepts, and I’m so hooked, I’ve already signed up for certification to continue my journey!”
“It’s been over 2 years since I took the Synergetic Play Therapy [program]. One of the best choices I’ve ever made. The magnitude of deeply attuning with our clients…and ourselves…is immeasurable!”
