Bibliotherapy with children who have a sibling with a disability

Children who have a sibling with a disability face unique challenges and experiences throughout their lives. Because of the varied situations that are due to their sibling’s condition, these children may face emotions they are not able to articulate or which may lead to confusion. Bibliotherapy is an intervention that has been shown to help children identify and express their feelings, as well as identify ways to cope with these feelings. This study provides support for these identified benefits of bibliotherapy, and further demonstrates the needs that these children have to interact with peers in similar situations and to be given opportunities to safely and openly express their feelings to caring adults.