5WAVES hosts first U.S. conference on sibling sexual trauma and abuse

A July 2026 conference at Long Island University brought survivors, caregivers, clinicians and researchers together for the first U.S. event dedicated entirely to sibling sexual trauma and abuse. The gathering aimed to reduce isolation, expand resources and push a widely misunderstood form of abuse into public view.

Why it matters: - The conference put sibling sexual trauma and abuse, or SSTA, on a national stage for the first time in the United States. - The event gave survivors and family members a shared space that many said had not existed before. - The gathering highlighted the need for resources, prevention and caregiver support around an abuse issue that remains underdiscussed.

What happened: - 5WAVES hosted Sibling Sexual Trauma and Abuse: Breaking the Silence on June 23, 2026 at Long Island University’s Post campus on Long Island, New York. - About 120 researchers, survivors, caregivers, clinicians and nonprofit leaders attended. - The conference brought together survivors, family members, clinicians, advocates, researchers and students. - The program included 20 talks and panels on healing, intrafamilial trauma, caregiver support, writing your story, prevention, advocacy and finding your voice. - Jane Epstein, co-founder of 5WAVES, opened the conference and said the organization exists to confront and heal sibling sexual trauma and abuse by centering survivors, parents and family members. - Maria Socolof, MS, co-founder of 5WAVES, said the group saw a growing community with few available resources and decided an in-person event was needed. - Risa Shaw, PhD, author of Not Child’s Play: An Anthology on Brother-Sister Incest, delivered the keynote, titled "Telling Our Stories: Shaping Change Together."

The details: - Attendees described the event as emotionally significant and said it left them better informed and less alone. - One survivor attendee said the conference helped him recognize, "I’m doing the work. I’m not alone. I’m taking the power back. I’m not broken. I spoke up. I rewrote myself." - Another attendee said the conference was "amazing, inspiring, informative, empowering, and helpful." - The conference was supported by vendors and sponsors. - Major sponsors included Not Child’s Play as seed money spark sponsor, Cielo Consulting as event planning sponsor and Saprea as conference wellness sponsor. - 5WAVES describes itself as a grassroots 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on confronting, healing and preventing sibling sexual trauma and abuse. - The nonprofit says WAVES stands for Worldwide Awareness, Voice, Education and Support. - 5WAVES directed readers to view the video recap and learn more, find resources for anyone affected by SSTA and donate.

Between the lines: - The conference signals that SSTA is moving from a private family crisis toward a public advocacy issue. - The emphasis on survivors, caregivers and clinicians suggests the field is still building the basic support network many other abuse categories already have. - The strong emotional response from attendees points to a broader sense of isolation among survivors and a demand for community-based healing.

What's next: - 5WAVES is using the conference to expand awareness, connect affected families to resources and keep building its advocacy network. - The organization is promoting additional information through its website and social channels. - Future events could help normalize discussion of SSTA and create more pathways for support, prevention and reporting.

The bottom line: - The first U.S. conference devoted entirely to sibling sexual trauma and abuse turned a hidden issue into a public conversation and showed there is an audience ready for more support, research and action.