Support Group for Siblings of Children with Special Needs

Johanna Manalis

Support Group for Siblings of Children with Special Needs

The group is open to boys and girls ages 7-12.

Approximately one in ten children in the United States have a sibling with unique developmental, physical or mental health needs.  While some children do not appear to be impacted by having a sibling with special needs, many experience isolation, guilt, confusion, depression, anxiety, perfectionism, embarrassment and pressure to achieve.  Many parents of children with special needs have an invaluable support network of other parents of children with special needs.  Unfortunately, few siblings of children with special needs have access to such a network.  Johanna Manalis, Child, Adolescent and Family Therapist, is offering an empowerment based support group for siblings of children with special needs.

The focus of the group will be to build relationships with other siblings of children with special needs.  The content of the group will include: defining “special needs” and exploring ways to talk to others about your unique family, perceived preferential treatment from caregivers, compensating for unresolved family grief, emotional identification and expression, developing healthy coping skills for managing stress, defining and exploring self goals as differentiated from family goals, and getting support from teachers, adults and peers.

When

January 15, 2011- February 12, 2011.  9:30-10:45 a.m.

Where

The Offices of Wise Counsel and Comfort, 5932 NE Glisan, Portland, OR.

Cost

The cost of the group is $110-$200 per participant based on your family’s income.

Register

Please contact Johanna Manalis, by December 22, 2010 to reserve your child’s spot.  503-735-5437 or johanna@johannamanalis.com.

Additional Information

http://johannamanalis.com/groups-and-workshops/