Social Skills Groups
Peer Interaction, Social Communication, Social Reasoning
Play On Words Therapy Solutions is excited to announce that we are taking our social skills program virtual! As we become all too familiar with telehealth and zoom meetings, it is imperative that we also continue to address the development and maintenance of social skills for individuals with autism and related disorders during this time. With technology becoming an increased mode of communication, what a great time to begin teaching how to interact virtually!
Our groups will focus on developing and refining skills relating to social interactions for children between the ages of 7 – 18. Our groups are separated based on age and results of a parent questionnaire. A diagnosis is not required to participate in our social skills group!
Social Skills Program Overview
Using a combination of evidence-based approaches, our Social Skills Groups will give children and teens the opportunity to work on social communication skills with peers in a facilitated and collaborative social setting. Groups are carefully selected to match clients based on the level of social mind and current needs. Groups will focus on:
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Improving peer relationships through effective communication
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Skills for developing and maintaining friendships
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How to increase peer interactions, peer acceptance, and engagement
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Using and understanding verbal and non-verbal cues
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Appropriatley dealing with teasing and bullying
Our Social Skills Approach
Carissa has years of experience working with children and teens on social skills, along with advanced training and continuing education in evidence-based social skills approaches.
Each group will be facilitated using a variety of curriculum including Michelle Garcia's Social Thinking and The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills. The programs have a strong evidence-base for use with adolescents and young adults with autism spectrum disorder, but are also appropriate for children with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional concerns.
Each group runs for 6-8 weeks. A lesson is provided each week tailored to both individual and group goals. Lessons are developed to effectively and successfully build:
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Social Skills: starting conversations, making friends, resolving conflicts, coping with losing, making mistakes, and increasing interpersonal attraction.
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Attention/Mindfulness: developing the ability to strengthen and focus attention.
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Self-talk Skills: the ability to have greater control over thinking while increasing positive thinking and decreasing negative thinking.
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Self-Esteem: developing a positive attitude, feeling confident about oneself, and overcoming peer pressure.
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Problem-Solving: working with others, making good choices, and setting goals.
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Coping: Frustration tolerance, anger management, reducing anxiety, and building self-confidence.
Girls Only Groups
Ages 8-16 are welcome!!
Our girls only group is designed for girls with social cognitive weaknesses: personal space, friendship & trust, sarcasm & humor, interpreting the social intentions of others, perspective weakness, social naivety... etc. The girls will engage in fun activities designed to build confidence. All lessons and activities promote self-confidence, self-acceptance, healthy peer relationships, prosocial skills. This group will offer instruction & discussion as well as practice opportunities. Activities may include work on cooperative projects, role-playing social scenarios, reviewing video clips from media, social event planning and participation.
Girls ages 8-16 are welcome!!
We aim to keep the developmental age distribution to 2-3 years in each group.
If you are interested in joining one of our groups, please use the form below to inquire about availability
No Girls Allowed
Ages 8-16 are welcome!!
Our boys only group focuses on building skills to help boys excel socially, emotionally, and academically. Activities, games, and problem-solving initiatives are used to aid boys in developing resources to overcome various social and coping difficulties. The groups are educational, provide guidance in effective behaviors, and offer an opportunity for boys to get positive feedback from lead therapist and members. The groups provide an outlet where boys can practice new skills and have successful experiences in a safe environment where criticism is discouraged and positive feedback is provided.
Boys ages 8-16 are welcome!!
We aim to keep the developmental age distribution to 2-3 years in each group.
If you are interested in joining one of our groups, please use the form below to inquire about availability
Young adults
Ages 17 and up are welcome!!
As we prepare young adults for the workplace, the traditional focus is on academic and technical/hard skills but, there’s another set of skills that are essential to a students’ future workplace success...employability skills.
This group will focus on improving skills related to professionalism, politeness, teamwork, problem-solving and critical thinking, and networking. Therapy will focus in increasing the student's ability to use and interpret verbal and nonverbal language in social interactions, having a two-way conversation, understanding humor, resolving a conflict and appropriately using electronic communication.
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