Social Skills Training
Practising friendship where it is safe to get it wrong.
Suitable for ages 4 – 16 years
Overview
Social skills groups of three to five children of similar age and ability practise greeting, joining play, sharing, negotiating, handling teasing and resolving conflict — with two therapists coaching in the moment.
Each skill is taught explicitly, modelled, rehearsed, reinforced and then assigned as a real-world practice task with parent feedback.
Signs your child may need this therapy
- Plays alone even when other children are available
- Difficulty sharing, waiting or losing gracefully
- Does not know how to join a group
- Frequent conflicts with peers or siblings
- Excluded or teased at school
- Struggles to keep friendships going
Benefits of Social Skills Training
- Practical strategies to start and join play
- Better turn-taking, sharing and negotiation
- Ability to manage teasing and disagreement
- Real friendships and party invitations
- Reduced loneliness and social anxiety
- Skills that generalise to school
Treatment process
- STEP 1
Behaviour assessment
Structured parent and teacher interviews, standardised rating scales (Vanderbilt, CBCL) and direct observation to identify triggers, patterns and the function of each behaviour.
- STEP 2
Functional behaviour plan
We define target behaviours in measurable terms and design antecedent strategies, replacement skills and reinforcement schedules — never punishment-based methods.
- STEP 3
Skill-building sessions
Individual and small-group sessions teaching emotional vocabulary, self-calming routines, waiting, turn-taking, flexible thinking and conflict resolution.
- STEP 4
Parent coaching
Six-session parent management training covering consistent instructions, planned ignoring, reward systems and de-escalation, with live practice and troubleshooting.
- STEP 5
School collaboration
With your consent we share strategies with class teachers and support schools with classroom accommodations and IEP inputs.
- STEP 6
Data-based review
Behaviour frequency and intensity are charted every week, so decisions to intensify, change or fade support are based on data, not impressions.
FAQ
Social Skills Training — your questions answered
Not sure where to start? Begin with an assessment.
One hour with our team gives you a clear picture of your child's development and a written plan you can act on — whether or not you continue therapy with us.