04/03/2026
What is an Elvis Child (replacement child)
In families where a child has died, the children born afterwards may grow up in the shadow of that loss.
In contextual therapy literature, these children are sometimes referred to as Elvis children — children who, often unconsciously, carry expectations, loyalties, and emotional tasks linked to the sibling who died.
Many of these children appear strong, capable, and high functioning.
Yet beneath this can lie complex relational dynamics: questions of identity, fragile self-validation, powerful family loyalties, and the quiet pressure to compensate for something that cannot be replaced.
Tomorrow evening’s talk will explore this phenomenon through a contextual therapy lens, including themes such as:
• Self-validation
• Invisible loyalties
• Delegation within families
• Destructive entitlement
• Existential guilt
We will also explore how these dynamics can influence development, relationships, and therapeutic work.
A special highlight of the evening will be a live clinical demonstration by Dr Ard Nieuwenbroek, offering practitioners the opportunity to see contextual principles applied in practice.
This evening is designed for professionals who work with families, grief, and identity development who wish to deepen their understanding of these often unseen dynamics.
There are still a few spaces available. Booking essential
📍 Theodor High School
🕕 17.00 - 18.30
🎟 Info@aparentisborn.co.za
Join us for what promises to be a thoughtful and meaningful exploration of this important topic.
What is an Elvis Child (replacement child)
In families where a child has died, the children born afterwards may grow up in the shadow of that loss.
In contextual therapy literature, these children are sometimes referred to as Elvis children — children who, often unconsciously, carry expectations, loyalties, and emotional tasks linked to the sibling who died.
Many of these children appear strong, capable, and high functioning.
Yet beneath this can lie complex relational dynamics: questions of identity, fragile self-validation, powerful family loyalties, and the quiet pressure to compensate for something that cannot be replaced.
Tomorrow evening’s talk is presented by Dr Ard Nieuwenbroek (international guest speaker & author of the supporting Elvis Children book) & Dr Tanya Defferary (co-author of the English edition of the Supporting Elvis Children book), where will explore this phenomenon through a contextual therapy lens, including themes such as:
• Self-validation
• Invisible loyalties
• Delegation within families
• Destructive entitlement
• Existential guilt
We will also explore how these dynamics can influence development, relationships, and therapeutic work.
A special highlight of the evening will be a live clinical demonstration by Dr Ard Nieuwenbroek offering practitioners the opportunity to see contextual principles applied in practice.
This evening is designed for professionals who work with families, grief, and identity development who wish to deepen their understanding of these often unseen dynamics.
There are still a few spaces available. Booking essential
📍 Theodor High School
🕕 17.00 - 18.30
🎟 Info@aparentisborn.co.za
Join us for what promises to be a thoughtful and meaningful exploration of this important topic.
