Sibling relationships can offer companionship, connection and belonging. But what happens when one child feels frightened, intimidated or unsafe around another? How do we recognise when behaviour goes beyond disagreements, and how can we support parents who feel caught between their children?

This two-hour webinar explores emotional and physical sibling harm through a compassionate, trauma-informed and relational lens. It creates space to consider experiences that can be difficult for children to disclose, parents to acknowledge and professionals to navigate.

Gemma Fieldsend and Jessica Parker will explore the distinction between sibling conflict and patterns of harmful behaviour, considering fear, impact, repetition and differences in power. We will look at intimidation, humiliation, threats, controlling behaviour and physical aggression, while remaining attentive to developmental stages, individual needs and the wider family context.

A central focus will be on holding the experiences of both children in mind: listening to and protecting the child experiencing harm while understanding and responding to the child causing it. We will consider how to acknowledge distress and unmet needs without minimising harm or placing responsibility for safety on the child who is frightened.

The webinar will also explore parents’ and carers’ experiences, including guilt, shame, divided loyalties and uncertainty about what to do. Through practice examples and guided reflection, participants will consider how to open conversations, respond to disclosures and support practical steps towards safety.

We will explore boundaries, supervision, safeguarding and when further assessment or specialist support may be needed. We will also consider relational repair, including why apologies, mediation or expectations to “get along” may be inappropriate while fear or harm continues.

The session focuses on emotional and physical sibling harm. Sibling sexual abuse is a distinct safeguarding concern requiring specialist consideration and is outside the detailed scope of this workshop.

Participation will be invitational, with opportunities for private reflection or chat contributions and no expectation of personal disclosure or role play.

Description supplied by the event organiser.