Social Skills Groups
Social Skills Group
For over a decade, our facility has been providing social skills groups for children from preschool to post high school. These groups are tailored for children who already have a good grasp of receptive and expressive language skills but need to work on functional communication skills that are crucial for social interactions. Our main objective is to help children generalize their skills from a one-on-one therapy session into real life social settings.
During our social skills groups, each child works on their individual goals, whether it be initiating and maintaining conversations, taking turns, being a good sport, listening actively, making eye contact, interpreting body language and facial expressions, and more. We also facilitate group activities that help children learn to work together, such as board games, group projects, and pretend play.
Many of our groups are led by both a speech pathologist and occupational therapist, so their sensorimotor needs are addressed as well.
For our groups of upper middle schoolers and older, our sessions become a safe space to discuss online bullying, dating, solving conflicts with friends, and improving their reputations. We provide them with compassionate guidance and practical strategies to help manage an often confusing world.
Our Use of the PEERS Program
Through PEERS our clients learn:
How to start, join, and maintain conversation
Using humor appropriately
Joining group activities and games
Handling teasing, disagreements, and conflict
Developing and sustaining friendships outside of group sessions
At Rizza Miro & Associates, we are proud to incorporate the PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) curriculum into our social skills groups. Developed at UCLA and used worldwide, PEERS is one of the most effective, research-based programs for helping children, teens, and young adults build meaningful friendships and navigate complex social situations.
Our therapists are trained to guide each child with role play, real - world practice, and parent involvement, ensuring that the skills learned in group translate into everyday life.
By blending PEERS with our fun, supportive group model, we give children and teens both the tools and confidence to build strong social connections
“Over the years, Rizza has worked with both of my children on issues ranging from social anxiety to friendship building to increasing confidence in social situations. I think she has a magic wand up her sleeve because the young man I dropped at college a few weeks ago is not the same little boy who was scared to meet new people.”