Social Skills Groups for Children and Teens in Northern Virginia.
Building real skills for real life:
Confidence - Friendship - Communication
Benefits of Our Groups
Build real friendships and stronger communication skills
Small, intentionally designed groups tailored to each participant’s strengths and needs
Navigate social situations with confidence
Practice conversations, group dynamics, boundaries, and problem-solving in real time
Develop age-appropriate independence skills
Including peer relationships, dating, and self-advocacy (when appropriate)
Practice in a supportive, judgment-free environment
Guided by experienced clinicians using evidence-based approaches
Who benefits from Social Skills Groups?
Our Social Skills Groups are ideal for children, teens, and young adults who struggle with social interactions, including those with:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
ADHD
Anxiety or social phobias
Difficulty with peer relationships
Challenges in understanding social norms
Each person is carefully matched to a group based on their developmental level, specific needs, and social goals to ensure an optimal learning experience.
Our Approach
Our approach integrates evidence-based methodologies such as Social Thinking®, ACT Therapy, Unstuck and On Target®, PEERS®, and Social Learning Theory to support children, teens, and young adults in understanding social nuances, developing emotional resilience, and promoting flexible thinking. We also incorporate verbal behavior techniques to enhance communication skills, ensuring that learners can effectively express themselves in various social settings. By blending structured learning with interactive, naturalistic play, we help participants generalize new skills across diverse social contexts, making social growth feel natural and sustainable.
What Are Social Skills Groups?
Social Skills Groups are structured sessions led by experienced practitioners that focus on teaching and reinforcing essential social behaviors. These groups typically involve a small number of participants, grouped by age and social-emotional needs, to ensure that each group member receives personalized support. Activities are designed to help each person learn, practice, and master skills. Our social skills groups cover a range of social and communication skills, including but not limited to:
Initiating and maintaining conversations
Understanding social cues (e.g., body language, facial expressions)
Conflict resolution and problem-solving
Perspective-taking and empathy
Managing emotions and self-regulation
Navigating group dynamics and cooperative play
Assertiveness and advocacy skills
Program Overview
Each group meets once a week for 60 minutes, with sessions typically running for 12 weeks. Groups are organized by age and developmental level to create a comfortable and relatable environment for participants.
Program Highlights:
Small Group Size: Typically range from 3 - 6 members per group to allow for individualized attention.
Flexible Scheduling: After-school and Saturday times are available to accommodate family schedules.
Age Ranges Served: Elementary through young adult
Family Communication: Families receive a progress report at the midway and conclusion of each 12 week session (if applicable)
Family Involvement: Our program includes optional family sessions to provide guidance on how to support and generalize social skills outside of group settings (if applicable)