It’s not easy to feel a situation as someone else is feeling it, even if that someone is a family member, even if they are your child.
Well-siblings—those children who have brothers or sisters facing chronic illness—lead lives with emotional landscapes unlike anyone else. Their emotional struggles and unique psychological needs are profound, and they deserve support that acknowledges their complex role in the family. So, how do we address their well-being effectively? Is traditional therapy the best option, or do newer, tech-based approaches offer a better fit?
But first, we are not here to bash traditional therapy
When we refer to something as “traditional,” we don’t mean that it’s obsolete or irrelevant. On the contrary, traditional therapy has stood the test of time, helping countless children navigate their emotional challenges. Traditional therapy generally involves bringing your child to a therapist’s office, where they can engage in talk therapy. This might include:
- Sharing their emotions in a safe, neutral space.
- Receiving guidance from a trained professional.
- Engaging in exercises designed to help them cope with stress, sadness, or confusion.
Traditional Therapy for Well-siblings
Traditional therapy is often compared to a regular doctor’s visit—it’s structured, professional, and happens in a clinical setting, which can provide a sense of safety and predictability. It’s an evidence-based approach that involves careful planning and assessment. Many families turn to traditional therapy because it’s:
- Clinically reliable: Years of research have demonstrated its effectiveness in helping children develop healthier coping mechanisms.
- Tailored to each child: Therapists often customize their approach to meet the child’s emotional maturity and psychological needs.
- Grounded in established practices: Traditional therapy is based on methodologies that have been researched, refined, and widely adopted in the mental health community.
So yes, traditional therapy can do magic, unless:
- Your child is not willing to talk: Many well-siblings may not feel ready or able to articulate their feelings verbally, which is the primary method used in talk therapy. This can make the sessions less productive if the child is more inclined to internalize their emotions.
- You can’t find the right therapist: While traditional therapy offers general solutions for mental health, well-siblings need a therapist who understands the unique challenges they face.
- The method doesn’t work for your child: Traditional therapy often works best for adults or older children who have established negative thought patterns that need addressing. Younger well-siblings or even adolescents may require different forms of engagement that don’t center around structured conversations but instead involve more interactive and playful interventions. Well-siblings are often still developing their emotional awareness and may benefit more from a therapeutic approach that allows them to express themselves non-verbally or through creative outlets.
Then it is decided. We take whatever traditional therapy is doing right, and add a little fairy dust.
GLOWS for Well-Siblings
GLOWS represents a new frontier in emotional support for well-siblings. Wherever there was a gap, we bridged it. Here’s how:
- Nobody else, just you: Unlike a general therapist, GLOWS is specifically designed for the well-sibling experience. Its AI-powered chatbot, Glowria, is programmed to recognize the emotional patterns and challenges that well-siblings face. It doesn’t misunderstand their unique situation—something that may happen with therapists who don’t specialize in this area.
- anytime, anywhere: Therapy appointments are often scheduled, which can be a limitation when your child needs immediate emotional support. GLOWS bridges that gap by being available 24/7. Whether your child feels upset late at night or during a stressful school day, Glowria is always just a click away, providing immediate emotional assistance.
- Today, tomorrow: Just like a therapist, GLOWS monitors your child’s emotional state over time, using advanced AI to identify patterns in their behavior and mood. It can alert you when it detects negative trends or when things seem to be improving. This kind of real-time feedback is invaluable in helping parents stay informed about their child’s emotional health.
- CBT, but digital: GLOWS doesn’t stray from established therapeutic methods. It integrates the principles of CBT, ensuring that all its features are backed by science. This means that while GLOWS may seem like a digital solution, it’s grounded in the same psychological theories that traditional therapy relies on.
- games with emotions at the core: Traditional therapy often focuses on talking, but GLOWS uses play as a therapeutic tool. The app includes games designed to help well-siblings explore and express their emotions in a fun, engaging way. These games help your child understand and process their feelings, which is especially important for younger children who might not yet have the language to articulate what they’re experiencing.
GLOWS and Traditional Therapy Go Hand in Hand
At GLOWS, we don’t see ourselves as a replacement for traditional therapy but as a complement to it. GLOWS is not just an app filled with games—it’s a thoughtfully designed therapeutic platform that combines the best of both worlds: clinical theory and innovative technology.
Ultimately, you don’t need to choose between GLOWS and traditional therapy. The two can work together to provide your child with the comprehensive support they need. Whether it’s journaling through the GLOWS app between therapy sessions or playing therapeutic games to help process emotions, GLOWS offers an immediate, accessible layer of support that traditional therapy alone might not be able to provide.
Need additional support? Ask anything, we are here to listen.
Frequently Asked Questions
GLOWS is based on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) model, which is a well-established and scientifically backed method of addressing emotional health. CBT helps users identify negative patterns in their thinking and behavior and provides tools to reshape these patterns in a positive way.
GLOWS is designed to offer immediate support, but it’s important to note that it is not a crisis intervention tool. For emergency situations, traditional therapy and other professional mental health services should be sought immediately. GLOWS can help identify emotional distress and patterns but is not a substitute for emergency care.
Yes! One of GLOWS’ key features is its ability to monitor emotional patterns and provide valuable insights into your child’s emotional health. This data can be shared with your child’s therapist to offer a more comprehensive understanding of their progress between therapy sessions.