The Ties That Harm: Understanding Sibling Abuse and Finding a Path to Healing

A groundbreaking work of investigative reporting on sibling abuse, a pervasive yet overlooked engine of lifelong trauma, that revolutionizes how we understand the origins of harm and the path to healing

Sibling abuse is the most common form of family violence, yet few recognize it, few professionals are trained to address it, and most survivors struggle for decades without the language to voice what they endured. In The Ties That Harm, journalist Lauren Krouse—drawing on extensive reporting and her own lived experience—exposes this vast, overlooked crisis and its lifelong consequences, and offers avenues for healing.

Through survivor stories, expert interviews, and a clear-eyed examination of the cultural myths that enable denial, Krouse reveals how patterns of domination, fear, and emotional harm between siblings shape mental health, relationships, and family systems long into adulthood. Blending memoir, investigation, and a roadmap for healing, The Ties That Harm sheds light on this overlooked aspect of domestic violence and charts a path toward recognition, accountability, and change.