Child Social Skills Program

Program Goals
1. To assist children in developing more effective socialization skills.
2. To decrease anxiety related to social interactions.
3. To help children develop more satisfying peer relationships.
4. To improve self-image and build confidence.
 
Children Appropriate for the Program
This program is appropriate for children who have difficulty engaging in peer interactions and relationships. They may appear shy or avoidant of other children. These children may be anxious about interacting with peers or may avoid interactions due to a lack of knowledge or skills. Likewise, this program is appropriate for children who are comfortable in peer relationships but behave in ways that interfere with the relationships. For example, children who have difficulty understanding social cues. Groups target children between the ages of 8 and 10. It is available to both boys and girls.
 
Basic Premise
The basic premise of the program is that children who avoid interactions with their peers do so because of a skill deficit or excessive anxiety. They may not have learned appropriate ways to interact with other children, may feel uncomfortable in social situations due to lack of practice or uncertainty about skill competence, or may need help fine-tuning the social skills they are already using. Such learning deficits may be the result of neurobehavioral disorders such as ADHD, Asperger’s Disorder or Nonverbal Learning Disability.

Children may also be given weekly homework assignments to do during the following week in order to maximize learning and application of skills. Individual therapy sessions are also available to address other difficulties. However, given that these children’s difficulties are social in nature, the group therapy format is strongly recommended in order to address the social issues in a more realistic setting with peers.
 
When
The next group is scheduled to begin in June 2010.
 
Program Therapists
Dr. Jeremy Devlin is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in working with children.

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