Minaa believes sibling and peer relationships often reflect our earliest lessons on boundaries, belonging, conflict, and repair.

With a background in trauma recovery, community care, and relational wellness, Minaa creates spaces that invite people to unpack family dynamics, build emotional resilience, and rewrite dysfunctional patterns. Her work centers on the idea that siblinghood is more than a family role—it’s a powerful relational framework that allows us to identify and transform the unconscious patterns that either strengthen or sabotage our adult relationships.

A Place to Belong

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A Place to Belong 〰️

Why Siblinghood?

Growing up as the youngest of 13 siblings in a blended family, I should have felt a sense of belonging. Instead, I often felt disconnected and like an only child—the age gaps were wide, and some of those sibling relationships were deeply painful and isolating.

It wasn't until I met my best friend in 1st grade that I discovered siblinghood could be chosen, and through that relationship, I began to understand the power of peer bonds.

Years later, as a therapist, I kept seeing the same patterns in my clients—workplace conflict that mirrored sibling rivalry, friendships sabotaged by competition, relationships where belonging felt transactional. I realized that while parent-child relationships have been extensively researched and theorized, sibling relationships remain one of the most underexplored areas of relational development—even though, for most of us, siblings were our first peers, our first competitors, and our first experience of what it means to belong.

I knew I needed to create what didn't exist. Drawing on attachment theory, family systems, and Individual Psychology, I developed The Siblinghood Theory—a framework that reveals how our earliest peer relationships shape the connections we make as adults.

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Fun facts about Minaa. Through the
lense of siblinghood.

  • Where is my family from?

    Panama and San Andrés, Colombia — first-gen American and proud

  • Comfort shows that model siblinghood that I always go back to:

    Insecure and Grace & Frankie

  • If I could have dinner with any siblings:

    Beyoncé and Solange (obviously)

  • Most relatable sibling trope?

    I’m a recovering peacemaker

  • How many siblings do I have?

    6 brothers and 6 sisters — yes, you read that right

  • A book about siblings I’ll never forget:

    One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia

  • Siblings I grew up loving:

    Mary-Kate and Ashley — iconic and peak ’90s

  • Something I believe about siblings:

    No sibling will experience the same parent — even when you grow up in the same household

Official Bio

Minaa B. is a therapist, author of Owning Our Struggles, and creator of The Siblinghood Theory—a relational framework that reveals how sibling and peer relationships shape the way we navigate belonging, conflict, and connection throughout life.

As the youngest of 13 in a blended family, Minaa experienced firsthand how sibling dynamics—both painful and transformative—shape our sense of belonging. Drawing on attachment theory, family systems, and Individual Psychology, she developed The Siblinghood Theory to address what traditional therapy often overlooks: the profound impact of sibling and peer relationships on our adult connections. Whether through biological siblings, childhood friendships, or chosen family, our first peer bonds taught us how to compete, belong, and connect as equals—and those early sibling dynamics continue to shape every relationship we navigate.

An expert in her field, Minaa has been recognized by numerous media outlets and publications. She has appeared on The Today Show, Red Table Talk, Peace of Mind with Taraji, BBC, and more. Her work has been featured in Oprah Daily, Katie Couric Media, SheMedia, The Skimm, and CBS News. Minaa is also a sought-after speaker, delivering keynotes and workshops for organizations including NAMI, Allstate, Parsley Health, LVMH, Meta, and Slack.

Minaa holds a graduate degree in social work from New York University and has worked across various sectors of the mental health field, including Early Head Start, private practice, and community mental health. Her work focuses on sibling relationships, belonging, and relational wellness—helping people understand the peer dynamics that shape how they connect, compete, and build community across all areas of life. She hosts Mindful With Minaa, a podcast exploring relational wellness, and serves on the Mental Health Advisory Committee for Wondermind, co-founded by Selena Gomez. She is also a relationship expert for eharmony. Minaa currently lives in New York City.