engleski

Child psychodrama with the sibling of a neurodiverse child: a case study

Growing up with a neurodiverse sibling faced with social, communication, and behavioral difficulties brings a number of challenges into a child’s life. Neurotypical child in a family is expected to be significantly more independent, "healthy", stronger and more competent, able to help with family responsibilities, which can sometimes go beyond the typical age range. Research confirms that these children are more likely to experience guilt, anger, and shame, loneliness, isolation and neglect. At the same time, they can have feelings of loss (of a childhood) and are concerned for their future. On the other hand, there are some favourable traits mentioned in literature. Those children may have higher levels of prosocial behavior, acceptance and support, altruism and tolerance, they have more patience and sensibility for others and are developing skills of advocacy for disadvantaged ones, placing more emphasis on family and health as a value, than children who do not have such experience. Additionally, those children especially value individual accomplishments and abilities, making an effort to achieve goals. Many of those traits were visible in this case study. The girl participated in 15 child psychodrama sessions that took place in a group of six children and two therapists during one school year. Her main themes were: the relationship with the mother, the feeling of invisibility, the protective relationship to others, “being a child” and “where do I belong?”. She repetitively plays the roles of a healer and protector of the weak, stops chaos and creates a refuge for herself and everyone who needs protection and undisturbed peace. Through her role as a queen, she expresses the need for her to finally be noticed and recognized in her family and to have some decision-making power and her needs validated. Through psychodramatic play, she finds ways to communicate with her brother in nonverbal and creative ways. Her return to reality, outside the symbolic world of child psychodrama, using a complex system of portals, is time consuming, requires focus and consistency, and is a fascinating example of a transition process that is otherwise challenging for her.

autism spectrum disorder ; sibling ; child psychodrama ; resilience

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