Social Skills Groups
There are 3 different social skills groups targeting children at different age ranges because social needs vary at different developmental periods.
6 to 8-year-old group: We offer an 8-week group to help introduce the basics of social skills to these children. Some of the skills that are emphasized are needs to share, early work on understanding others feelings, and making positive choices.
9 to12-year-old group: An 8-week group that targets self esteem and social skills. Children learn to decrease negative thinking and increase their positive self talk. Members also learn specific skills such as assertiveness, active listening, relaxation strategies, problem solving, and other coping skills. Children learn these skills through groups discussions and role playing techniques which keep them interested and engaged while helping them bond with the other kids.
13 to 14-year-old group: An 8-week group that sees the early teen years as a unique time where identity is building and kids are developing a greater sense of self. Members are helped to look closely at themselves and their friendships and attitudes while increasing their bond to one another. The group creates a supportive and friendly atmosphere for younger teens looking to explore their relationships with others and develop a healthier sense of themselves.
Advanced social skills group (ages are varied): This group runs one time per year, usually in the summer, and focuses on enhancing social skills while helping kids to understand group dynamics. Children in this group have either completed one of the basic social skills groups or have participated in a social skills group outside of the practice that has taught the basics of social skills.
Teen group for ages 15-18: This group is ongoing once a week. Here, teens have the opportunity to discover themselves with their peers. They learn social and coping skills and empower each other to make healthier decisions. Teens in this group find that being among their peers leads to a more open and expressive environment. This leads to a group experience where they have opportunities to offer direction and to help one another while feeling secure and comfortable with the group process. Teen groups offer the ability for members to process their own day-to-day experiences with those they feel they can relate to.
Expressive arts group: A group designed to help children express emotions and gain social confidence in the context of art therapy. The group introduces many concepts related to increasing social competence while offering artistic and creative means to express oneself. It is a suitable alternative for children who may find that social skills groups are not an exact match for them. In this group art is a vehicle for self-expression–and comfortably opens the door to social discussions and learning. The group is 8 weeks long; ages vary by group.