Preventive therapy with siblings of a dying child.

A case study of psychiatric intervention for t*.-. sisters whose brother is dying of leukemia is presented. The therapeutic technique attempted to deal with the threatened loss by a forthright approach to the reality situation, encouraging uimmunizing" discussions, allowance for catharsis without severe regression, emphasis on reality orientation, and direct initiation and enhancement of mourning through the use of transference materials. A theoretical discussion of the capacity of children to mourn is included. Am empirical assessment of the therapy suggests that immediate ventilative help at a time of great stress was provided, but that there was little effect on the children's capacity to sustain prolonged mourning processes. (DP) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY PREVENTIVE THERAPY WITH SIBLINGS OF A DYING CHILD Daniel Feinberg, u. D. * U S OEF. 'TMENT OF HEALTH EOUC.. IN & WELFARE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION THts OCCUMENT HAS BEEN REPRO Ea.( ED EXACTLY AS LIECEvED FROM THE PERSON OR ORGAN./ATON OuGN ATINC, IT PO.NTS OF OPINONc STALED DO NOT ,,(Es5ARL RE .PE SENT OF F CAL INST, TUTS 3, EDuCAT.ON POSTwN OR POE (N,