Sibling play therapy with homeless children: an opportunity in the crisis

A shelter for the homeless in Hawaii uses the residential setting as an opportunity to provide on-site, flexibly scheduled, culturally sensitive play therapy to young children, specifically targeting siblings as a natural support system to counteract the restricted peer interaction and play experience of this population. Case examples illustrate how sibling groups use the playroom to manage family crises as they happen, resolve conflicts, and express difficult feelings, making sense of their unpredictable world and mastering crucial developmental tasks.