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Sick Sister Consolidation Model

Also: Sick Sister, SIC SR, Six SR, Sick Sister Model, SIG SR Consolidation

Model high symmetrical

Visual Context Required

This concept requires chart visuals for full understanding.

The Sick Sister Consolidation Model is an intermarket divergence model that identifies which of two correlated instruments (typically ES and NQ, or two correlated forex pairs) is the "sick" (weaker/lagging) leg of the pair during a consolidating market. In a trending market, SMT (Smart Money Technique) divergence is used: both instruments should make higher highs / lower lows together; when one diverges, it signals a reversal. The Sick Sister model is similar to SMT but applies specifically to consolidation conditions and is NOT the same as SMT. Sick Sister (bullish example): 1. Market is consolidating — no strong trend, both instruments chopping. 2. One instrument (the "sick sister") fails to make a higher high that the other instrument already made. This is the lagging, weaker instrument. 3. Wait for the sick sister to drop to a deep discount — specifically the Optimal Trade Entry zone (OTE: 61.8%–79% Fibonacci retracement of the swing being measured). 4. Within that OTE zone, look for a fair value gap inside or at an order block that is below equilibrium of the range. 5. Buy the sick sister expecting it to "catch up" — to eventually reach and exceed the high the stronger instrument already made. 6. Target: the buy-side liquidity above the high the sick sister could not reach. Bearish variant: the sick sister fails to make a lower low; expect it to eventually drop to that level; sell at OTE resistance with target at the low it has not yet reached.

First seen: 2023-05-09 Updated: 2023-05-09
Identification6
  • Two correlated instruments are identified (e.g., ES and NQ, or EUR/USD and GBP/USD).
  • The market is in a consolidation phase — no strong directional trend.
  • One instrument (the 'sick sister') has failed to make the higher high (bullish) or lower low (bearish) that the correlated instrument has already reached.
  • The sick sister is now pulling back or has pulled back significantly.
  • The sick sister reaches the OTE zone: 61.8%–79% Fibonacci retracement of its relevant swing.
  • Within the OTE zone, a fair value gap or order block exists below equilibrium (for bullish) or above equilibrium (for bearish).
Entry3
  • Buy limit (bullish) at the FVG or order block within the OTE zone (61.8–79% retracement) on the sick sister instrument.
  • Confirmation: the sick sister shows a shift in market structure on a lower timeframe (1m–5m) within the OTE zone.
  • The FVG entry should be below equilibrium of the consolidation range.
Stop2
  • Below the OTE zone low / below the order block (bullish entry).
  • Above the OTE zone high / above the order block (bearish entry).
Target2
  • The buy-side (bullish) or sell-side (bearish) liquidity at the level the sick sister failed to reach.
  • Intermediate target: the equilibrium of the consolidation range.
Invalidation3
  • The sick sister makes a new low below the swing low being measured (bullish setup) — it is no longer 'sick,' it is now leading lower and the bullish premise is invalid.
  • The stronger instrument also reverses and makes a new low, confirming distribution across both — the 'catch-up' thesis is negated.
  • Price fails to reach the OTE zone and instead reverses from a shallower retracement — insufficient discount for a high-probability entry.

Inferred Conditions (Unvalidated)

  • The stronger correlated instrument acts as a confirmation reference — it has already 'shown the way'; the sick sister will eventually follow.
  • Best applied during established consolidation phases on the daily or 4H chart, with entries triggered on 1H or lower.
  • The OTE zone (61.8–79%) is the standard ICT discount/premium entry zone applied here to intermarket context.

ICT Quotes

""SMT. Six SR is similar but not the same as SMT. There are conditions with a trending market, where the six SR opportunity will see a move to hasn't transpired yet on one asset or correlated market.""

00:02:31|ICT YT - 2023-05-09 - NQ Futures Review and The ICT Sick Sister Consolidation Model.srt

Timeframes

5m15m1h4hdaily
Version History1 version
2023

ICT YT - 2023-05-09 - NQ Futures Review and The ICT Sick Sister Consolidation Model

Original introduction of the Sick Sister Consolidation Model. Presented with live NQ/ES example in consolidation context.

Notes

The SRT transcript renders the name as 'six SR,' 'six sister,' and 'SIG SR' throughout due to speech-to-text transcription errors. The correct name is 'Sick Sister.' No prior 2016 or 2022 content has been found that defines this model under this name — it is a new 2023 concept. It builds on the existing OTE, FVG, and order block concepts but the intermarket consolidation framework is novel.

Asymmetry Notes

The key distinction from SMT divergence is the consolidation context. SMT is used in trending markets to flag reversals; Sick Sister is used in consolidating markets to identify the lagging instrument that will eventually catch up to its peer's extreme. The "sickness" is under-performance relative to a correlated peer, not a reversal signal per se.