Kelsey Ruffing, MA, MS, LCPC

Super Sibling™ was born from the intersection of professional expertise and personal experience.

As a licensed clinical health therapist, educator, pediatric chronic illness advocate, and mother of a child living with Type 1 diabetes, I have witnessed firsthand how a diagnosis impacts every member of the family—not just the child receiving medical care.

When my daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, our family's world changed overnight. While we received excellent medical education, I quickly realized there were very few resources available for her sibling. Like so many brothers and sisters, he had questions, worries, and emotions of his own, yet there was little guidance to help him understand what our family was experiencing.

As both a clinician and a parent, I knew there had to be a better way.

That experience inspired me to create Super Sibling™—a family support program designed to ensure siblings feel informed, included, and emotionally supported from the very beginning. My goal was to develop resources that are not only engaging for children, but also grounded in child development, family systems, and evidence-informed practices that strengthen resilience and family connection.

Throughout my career, I have dedicated my work to helping individuals and families navigate chronic illness, medical trauma, identity changes, and life's most challenging transitions. In addition to my clinical work, I have advocated for children and families affected by chronic illness, including successfully advocating before the Illinois Supreme Court to improve educational standards and training for guardians ad litem and judges on pediatric chronic illnesses such as Type 1 diabetes.

Today, my mission is simple: to ensure that no sibling feels forgotten after a diagnosis. Through partnerships with families, healthcare organizations, diabetes programs, and community organizations, I hope to make sibling support an essential part of family-centered care.

Thank you for being here and for believing, as I do, that every child deserves to feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Together, we can help families navigate Type 1 diabetes with greater understanding, connection, and hope.

With gratitude,

Kelsey Ruffing, MA, MS, LCPC
Founder, Super Sibling™
Clinical Health Therapist • Educator • Author • Pediatric Chronic Illness Advocate