Conference

Siblings often accom­pany us through­out our lives, start­ing in early child­hood. Our rela­tion­ships with them shape our social and emotional development—both in posi­tive and chal­leng­ing ways. Even for only chil­dren, the absence of a sibling can play a signif­i­cant role in their own devel­op­ment and their expe­ri­ence of family life.

The members of the Cologne Thalido­mide Support Group aim to gain a better under­stand­ing of sibling rela­tion­ships in fami­lies affected by thalido­mide from personal, profes­sional, and scien­tific perspec­tives. In a small group setting, partic­i­pants are invited to share their own expe­ri­ences and obser­va­tions with one another and to reflect on them together.

The focus may be on ques­tions regard­ing attach­ment and rela­tion­ship dynam­ics, the divi­sion of roles, close­ness and distance, rivalry and conflict, taking on respon­si­bil­ity, and loyalty. We are also inter­ested in learn­ing which aspects the partic­i­pants consider partic­u­larly rele­vant for an in-depth acad­e­mic explo­ration of the topic.

The focus group has an open format and provides a space for shar­ing personal expe­ri­ences as well as profes­sional and acad­e­mic perspectives.

Number of partic­i­pants: max. 12 people