• PEERS was designed for individuals who are often left out of other programs… either because they’re too high-functioning or too old.
• Using a variety of teaching techniques, PEERS shows children, teens, and young adults the in’s and out’s and the why’s and why not’s of interaction skills so your child can communicate where, when, and with whomever they want.
• Don’t live nearby?  That’s ok!  All of our services and classes are held in-person and via telehealth simultaneously.  Our goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of our clients and their families wherever they may be.

• The first thing to understand is that there are two types of social skills groups… friendship-matching and skill-based groups.  Both have a place in the lives of those who struggle, but you need the right group at the right time.

• “Friendship-matching” groups are based on the assumption that because kids share the same difficulty or diagnosis, they’ll develop friendships.
  • Unfortunately, life does not work that way.  True friendships are based on common interests, not because adults group them together.
  • Additionally, increased practice without a focus on skill development usually leads to reinforcement and solidification of the current set of skills.  Anything that may be holding them back in other settings or with other people will become more entrenched.
• “Skill-based” groups (like PEERS) help children learn a second social language.
  • We inherently understand that people who only speak Mandarin will have significant difficulty interacting with people who only speak French.  We instinctively know that if people speak different oral languages, a conversation is likely impossible.
  • What many don’t realize is that there are also different social languages and they come with different routines, steps, and rules.  If two people who use different social languages try to have a conversation, they will probably have difficulty connecting, a mismatch will eventually happen, and the conversation could break down.
• Our preferred method is to first join a skill-based group so they can learn additional skills… These skills offer them more tools and choices so they can expand their social world.
  • In this type of group, they’ll learn the unwritten rules behind the dominant social langauge in the area.  When combined with their primary social language, they’ll be able to choose who to communicate with, when, and how they want to do so.
  • As new skills are being refined, participants will learn how to find others with common interests.  They will be coached to join groups that focus on their interests (like friendship-matching groups, sports teams, theater troops, etc.) so they can meet new, potential friends.
• Also, there are many programs out there that sound good, but have little to no evidence proving that they actually work… and many don’t in the long run.  Ask to see the research before you spend your money.  You can find links to the research behind PEERS here.

That’s ok…  We offer individual services, as well.  Individualized Social Coaching and/or Caregiver Consultations offer excellent alternatives to a course when they simply don’t work for your situation.

Your loved one will learn the same skills they would in a class and you will develop the tools you need to be their Social Coach.

Not sure what to do?  Schedule a Meet & Greet and we’ll help you figure it all out.

These classes are best for children who are:

• • In 2nd grade or above
  • Verbal and have at or near-average oral language skills
  • Successful in at least one mainstream class
  • Behaviorally independent

Our Classes:

• • Are held in-person and via telehealth simultaneously to allow for the greatest flexibility and access
  • Are limited to a maximum of 12 participants per class
  • Include: peer-to-peer practice during class with social coaching, assigned peer-to-peer get-togethers during the week so they can continue refining their new skills, handouts with all the information so there is no need to take notes, and time just for parents and caregivers… We’ll celebrate successes and troubleshoot any problems that come up
  • Require parent/caregiver attendance, participation, and weekly carryover assignments…  Their progress depends on it!  Parents and caregivers will relax in the parent lounge while they watch a live feed from the classroom.  They will learn the same skills and strategies so they can effectively coach their loved one at home
  • Are based on the research, evidence, and programs from UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.  They are research-based, evidence-based, and parent-assisted (a critical detail).

Schedule

• • Wednesdays, 6:00 to 7:15 pm (doors open at 5:45)
    • March 15 through June 7 (make-up dates: June 14 & 21)
  • Details for our Summer 2023 programs are coming soon!

Cost:

• • $80 screening
  • $1000 course (approximately $65 per hour) 
    • Course cost may be divided into installments
  • Registration is not complete & their seat is not guaranteed until payment has been made in-full

These classes are best for tweens and teens who are:

• • In middle, junior, or high school
  • Verbal and have at or near-average oral language skills
  • Successful in at least one mainstream class
  • Behaviorally independent

Our Classes:

• • Are held in-person and via telehealth simultaneously to allow for the greatest flexibility and access
  • Are limited to a maximum of 12 participants per class
  • Include: peer-to-peer practice during class with social coaching, assigned peer-to-peer phone calls during the week so they can continue refining their new skills, handouts with all the information so there is no need to take notes, and time just for parents and caregivers… We’ll celebrate successes and troubleshoot any problems that come up
  • Require parent/caregiver attendance, participation, and weekly carryover assignments…  Their progress depends on it!  Parents and caregivers will relax in the parent lounge while they watch a live feed from the classroom.  They will learn the same skills and strategies so they can effectively coach their loved one at home
  • Are based on the research, evidence, and programs from UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.  They are research-based, evidence-based, and parent-assisted (a critical detail).

Schedule

• • Tuesdays, 6:00 to 8:30 pm (doors open at 5:45)
    • March 14 through June 6 (make-up dates: June 13 & 20)
  • Details for our Summer 2023 programs are coming soon!

Cost:

• • $80 screening
  • $2000 course (approximately $65 per hour)
    • Course cost may be divided into installments
  • Registration is not complete & their seat is not guaranteed until payment has been made in-full

Individualized social coaching sessions are best for children, teens, and young adults who struggle with conversations, friendships, and other social skills.  Ideal participants have at or near-average oral language skills.  Using the PEERS® methodology, our Parent & Social Support Specialist will help them learn the skills underlying the most common social language in the region.  Once learned, your loved one will be socially bilingual and empowered to communicate with anyone they want, anywhere they are. 

Parents and caregivers may sit in on social coaching sessions, observe from afar, or attend alone.  No matter how you look at it, help is best delivered where and when the issue arises (better yet, just before they head into a social situation).  This means that parents and other family members are in a unique position to deliver support that will have a lasting impact.  Our Parent and Social Support Specialist will answer your questions, help you troubleshoot specific situations, and guide you through the information you need to become your child’s best social coach.

In-person and remote appointments are available in the mornings, early afternoons, and on Monday evenings.
$45 • 30 minutes
$90 • 60 minutes