SOCIAL SKILLS CLASSES
We teach social skills classes to tweens and teens using an evidence-based curriculum called PEERS® for Adolescents. The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is a social skills intervention that was developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson to support individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other social disorders who have difficulty with peer interactions and relationships.
PEERS® for Adolescents has a strong evidence base for use with adolescents with ASD but it is also appropriate for adolescents with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socioemotional challenges.
PEERS® is different than other social skills programs because it:
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Is evidence-based
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Trains parents and caregivers to be social coaches for their child
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Teaches social skills used by socially successful people
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Offers individual coaching and ample opportunity for students to practice newly learned skills within and outside of the class
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Offers booster classes for maintenance of skills
Both Dr. Bjustrom and Ms. Flegner are certified PEERS® for Adolescents providers and have been trained by the UCLA PEERS® Clinic.
Our social skills classes are based on grade-level. Our tween PEERS® for Adolescents classes are for students in grades 5-7 and our teen PEERS® for Adolescents classes are for students in grades 8-12.
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Friendship Skills Mini Series *NEW*
A social skills class offered during the summer for students in 5th-12th grade who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends. Students are taught targeted social skills through instruction, role-play demonstrations, and have the opportunity to practice newly learned skills with other peers in the class. This mini series presents information from select lessons in the PEERS® for Adolescents social skills program.
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Conversation Skills Mini Series *NEW*
A social skills class offered during the summer for students in 5th-12th grade who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends. Students are taught targeted social skills through instruction, role-play demonstrations, and have the opportunity to practice newly learned skills with other peers in the class. This mini series presents information from select lessons in the PEERS® for Adolescents social skills program.
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PEERS® for Adolescents Booster Classes *NEW*
PEERS® for Adolescents Booster classes are offered periodically throughout the year and are available to students who have completed a PEERS® for Adolescents social skills class, Friendship Skills Mini Series, or Conversation Skills Mini Series. Booster classes are designed for students to review and practice targeted social skills with peers while receiving individualized coaching from certified PEERS® providers.